Ex-DG Mba, Udotai deny N10b fraud in NBC

A former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba and Managing Director, Technology Advisor, Mr. Basil Udotai yesterday denied any N10 billion fraud in the agency.

They faulted a

report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging inflation of collateral funds meant for Digital Set-Top–Boxes.

Udotai specifically said he offered legitimate legal service to NBC and even paid N500 million as taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Mba and Udotai made the clarifications in separate letters to The Nation by their counsel, O.J. Onoja (SAN) ,insisting that no money was missing in NBC.

The letters reads: “We are the retained solicitors to Mr. Emeka Mba, the erstwhile Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and on whose behalf we write to you in respect of the above subject matter.

Our client’s attention has been drawn to your reckless and malicious publication headlined on the front page of The Nation of Friday, March 4, and also on your online publication of same date with our client’s photograph and titled “EFCC recovers N10b from ex-NBC DG, agency set to arraign Mba, others.

“The news was also headlined on page 8 of the said publication as “Fraud in NBC: EFCC recovers N10b, set to prosecute ex-DG Mba, three others” in both the print and online publication of the same day under reference. You published or caused to be published the following false and libellous statement against our client as follows:

”Our client has noted with disgust and utter disbelief the fact that a widely circulated newspaper of your standing would in the most unprofessional and unethical manner print and circulate the above false statement just to scandalise and malign his reputation without first seeking to hear his side of the story in order to balance the report. The above publication is full of half truth, misleading and utter misrepresentation of facts and our clients believe that the only reason for this quack and sharp journalistic practices and resort to rumour mongering is for selling your papers for commercial ends.

“The truth is that during the tenure of our client as DG of NBC, no money was missing, lost or stolen by one at the NBC.

“The NBC in all its transaction followed due processes and acquired appropriate approvals from the its Board of Directors, the then Minister of Information, former minister of Communication Technology and former President Goodluck Jonathan to accelerate the NBC to successfully transit Nigeria to digital broadcasting.

“Contrary to your false story, there was no  N10billion recovered by the EFCC. The said money was deposited with the Zenith Bank as collateral for letters of guarantee issued by the Bank to manufacturers of set-up-boxes.

“It was agreed with EFCC that the deposit be terminated and money transferred to EFCC account thereby terminating the contract.

“Our client is an outstanding public servant with over 25 years experience in the communication and entertainment industries. He is also an administrator and marketing consultants of international repute. The false statement/story cited herein in their natural, ordinary and or inferential meaning or by innuendoes meant and were understood to mean and portray our client as:(a) very corrupt Administrator (b)an undisciplined and disobedient professional; (c) a  criminal not to be trusted; (d) a person unfit to occupy public office; (e) a person investigated, found wanting and to be arraigned for trial.

“The above publication was widely circulated throughout Nigeria and beyond and read by right thinking members of the public especially our client’s colleagues in the media and entertainment industries, his family and friends who hitherto held him as good father, husband and professional in his field.

“Some of these people are now distancing themselves from him because of your ill-motivated publication which has exposed him to public ridicule, hatred, contempt, opprobrium and disparagement as they have no means of hearing his own side of the story.”

On his part, Udotai who explained in addition that he is a legal practitioner of high repute, said the contract for Digital Set-Top –Boxes. was transparent.

He added: “The entire proposal and the procedure adopted in this transaction by the board of NBC in dealing with our client were approved by the then board of NBC and the former President.

“Our client from the legal fees it received paid more than N500million to FIRS as taxes. We are therefore amazed as to how an open transaction could be described as a fraud.”

The EFCC was yet to react to the claims of the two people yesterday.

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