The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged the public to disregard and count it out of involvement in an alleged telephone tracking and hacking.
The Commission stated this in reaction to an allegation by some individuals, especially in the political circle, that it was engaged in the tracking and hacking of the telephone conversations of some political gladiators.
There has been insinuation that a private telephone conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter and the pastor of the Living Faith Church (aka Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, was allegedly leaked by the NCC.
However, the telecoms regulatory agency, in a press release by its Director of Public Affairs, Rueben Muoka, denied the allegation in its entirety.
It stated that the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, does not permit it to track or leak telephone conversations of anyone.
The Commission also stated that it is not taking the allegations lightly, hence it has reported the allegations to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.
It urged members of the public to disregards the allegations and re-affirmed its commitment to discharging its responsibilities to Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and other extant laws.
NCC stated in the press release that it “has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative media.”
In response to the allegation, the Commission made some clarifications thus: “The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety;
“By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone;
“The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action;
“The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices;
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them.”
