Lai Mohammed, DG NBC, Pinnacle In Trouble Over N10b Digital Switch-Over Fraud

The George Uboh Whistleblowers Network [GUWN] has dragged the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Director General of Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], Mr. Modibbo Kawu and the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Mr. Lucky Omoluwa, to the Senate over N10 billion Digital Switch-Over fraud.

In a letter dated Wednesday, November 21, 2018, GUWN Chairman, Dr. George Uboh requested for a full hearing from The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as well as recommendation for prosecution of anyone found culpable.

In the letter forwarded through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Dr. Uboh recounted that the Federal Government released N10 Billion Naira to the ministry of information and culture in 2016 for Digital Switch-Over (DSO) program aimed at migrating Nigeria’s communication from analogue to digital platforms.

Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu

According to him, a directive was issued by the ministry of information that the process should be handled by government-affiliated companies to actualize the program and two companies were nominated to handle the process.

One of the companies was ITS, an affiliate of NTA thus government-affiliated, and N1.7 billion was released to it.

However, a second company, Pinnacle Communications Limited, was nominated which is a violation of the directive as it is not government-affiliated.

Meanwhile, N2.5 billion was released to it between May/June 2017 into its Zenith Bank account, yet the entire job for the N2.5 billion has not been executed which aroused the curiosity of the Whistleblowers.

According to Uboh, “suspicious transfers were made from Pinnacle’s Zenith account to suspicious individuals and organizations.

“N100 Million was paid to its MD, Dipo Onifade; N450 Million was paid to a Bureau De Change, Sadbat Investment Limited, who gave the equivalent in USD to Pinnacle Chairman Lucky Omoluwa in Kaduna.”

Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Mr. Lucky Omoluwa

Meanwhile, it was discovered that the ‘money meant to execute contract started dissipating suspiciously, more so when the contract is yet to be executed’.

He, therefore, requested the Senate committee to direct:

1. Lai Mohammed to produce white-paper or directive that the DSO process should be handled by government-affiliated companies, approval to Pinnacle communications Limited and state reason(s) why approval was given to pinnacle a non-government-affiliated company; proof of expenditure of the N10 Billion Naira released by the FGN for the DSO program;
2. Modibbo Kawu, DG, NBC, to produce approval to Pinnacle communications Limited and state reason(s) why approval was given to pinnacle a non-government-affiliated company; proof of expenditure of the N10 billion Naira released by the FGN for the DSO program;
3. Lucky Omoluwa, Chairman, Pinnacle Communication limited, to produce letter of approval from ministry of information and culture and/or NBC; bill of quantity or scope of work to be done; proof of completion of work; zenith bank record of receipt of N2.5 Billion Naira; bank record of disbursements from same account after receipt of the N2.5 Billion;
4. Dipo Onifade, MD, Pinnacle Communications Limited, to produce letter of approval from ministry of information and culture and/or NBC; bill of quantity or scope of work to be done; proof of completion of work; zenith bank record of receipt of N2.5 Billion Naira; bank record of disbursements from same account after receipt of the N2.5 Billion;

See the attached document:

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