The detention of the embattled Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Emeka Mba has been described as a witch hunt orchestrated to please certain persons affected by the operations of the NBC in recent time.
A source at the commission who pleaded his name not be mentioned in print said the embattled DG, who has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after honouring an invitation by the anti-graft body since January 11, 2016 over an alleged misappropriation of N15 billion is being punished unjustly.
“From all indications, the alleged misappropriated fund was as a result of an off-taker guarantee granted to authorised local set-top-box (STB) manufacturers to enable them manufacture and deliver set-top-boxes (STBs) for Nigeria’s digital transition.
“The Commission received all the necessary approvals before setting aside a portion of its funds for a rebate system which would enable Nigerians to buy the set-top-boxes at an affordable price.
“Truth be told, the fund is a subsidy for the STBs to be cheaper for Nigerians to buy at the pilot digital switchover (DSO) stage in order to encourage the uptake of digital. Thereafter, STB manufacturers can set-up their factories to locally manufacture the STBs thereby creating a multi-billion dollars investment in Nigeria, creating thousands of jobs and growing the economy,” the source said.
He noted that the set-top-box will provide electronic programme guide (EPG), games, e-government information services, internet access when plugged with USB internet dongle and other interactive services that will revolutionise how Nigerians watch television and usher in a new digital ecosystem.
Adding that the EFCC was not properly guided on the nature of the digital switchover (DSO) in Nigeria being the reason for the manner in which Mba was detained on receipt of a petition which was alleged to have been sponsored by someone in the NBC in collaboration with some people who are bent on unseating the DG.
-Leadership