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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • Why FG is breaking monopoly in broadcasting – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government is determined to end all forms of monopoly in broadcasting because it is detrimental to the actualization of the immense potential in the industry.

    The minister stated this on Sunday at a meeting with Online Publishers in Lagos.

    Mohammed recalled that he, on Oct. 10, inaugurated the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Reform Implementation Committee to, among others, implement reforms to end monopoly in the sector.

    The committee was also mandated to implement the review of National Broadcasting Code and extant broadcasting laws to reflect stiffer penalties for violators of broadcasting regulations as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “A situation where a few people corner a chunk of the industry to the detriment of others, especially our teeming and talented youths, is totally unacceptable and untenable.

    “Monopolies stunt growth, kill talents and discourage creativity.

    “The clearest example of the creative energy that can be unleashed when monopoly is totally broken can be seen in the telecommunications industry.

    The minister added: “Of course, the broadcast industry has also been liberalised. But any vestige of monopoly is antithetical to the liberalisation of the broadcast industry and must be dismantled.

    “In the case of Nigeria, it’s the monopoly of content that breeds anti-competition practices.

    “You cannot use your financial or whatever power to corner and hold on tight to a chunk of the market, preventing others from having access.

    “Such monopolies are crumbling everywhere in the world and Nigeria cannot be left out.

    NAN reports that with the implementation of the committee’s mandate, television viewers, especially lovers of sports may witness an end to MultiChoice’s monopoly on the live airing of high-profile sporting events.

    High-profile sporting events, especially for well-loved sports, particularly soccer, are currently only available to subscribers of DSTV.

    Specifically, DSTV has the monopoly on live airing of English Premier League and UEFA Champions League in Nigeria.

    A reliable source in the ministry told NAN that the era of liberalisation is, therefore, expected to witness the sporting events being accessible to other pay-TVs and free to air platforms in the country.

    It will be recalled that Independent Communications Authority Of South Africa (ICASA) had taken similar step by unveiling Draft Sports Broadcasting Services Amendment Regulations 2018.

    The bill is aim at making big sporting events accessible for free to all citizens of South Africa.

  • Tribunal judgement: Atiku, PDP should apologise to Nigerians for distracting Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    Tribunal judgement: Atiku, PDP should apologise to Nigerians for distracting Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has asked the PDP and its presidential candidate in the last elections, Atiku Abubakar to apologise to Nigerians for willfully distracting the President Muhammadu Buhari administration with a frivolous election petition, instead of appealing the ruling of Wednesday’s Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

    In a statement issued in St Petersburg, Russian Federation, on Thursday, the Minister said while the PDP and its candidate reserve the right to pursue their petition to the highest level, they would be better served by dropping their toga of
    desperation and realising that there is a limit to tomfoolery.

    ”Nigerians are tired of this orchestrated distraction, and will rather wish that the opposition, having lost at the polls and in
    court, will now join hands with the government to move Nigeria to the next level.

    ”This is more so that the judgement validating the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was unanimous that the petition lacked merit, that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds upon
    which their case was anchored and that President Buhari is eminently qualified to contest the poll,” he said.

    Mohammed said instead of casting aspersion on the judiciary with their poorly framed reaction to the ruling of the Tribunal, the PDP and its candidate should be thanking their stars that they were not
    being prosecuted for coming to court with a fraudulently obtained evidence.

    ”It is intriguing that a party that trumpets the rule of law at every turn will present, in open court, evidence it claimed to have obtained
    by hacking into a supposed INEC server. Don’t they realize this is a criminal act for which they are liable? Instead of threatening to head to the Supreme Court, driven more by ego than commonsense, they should be sorry for allowing desperation to overwhelm their sense of reasoning. Enough is enough,” he said.

    The Minister commended the Tribunal for not only doing justice to the case but for explaining, in painstaking details that lasted hours, how it arrived at its judgement.

    ”We also thank Nigerians, who voted massively to re-elect President Buhari, for their continued support,” he said

  • Ministerial screening: I’m not a liar – Lai Mohammed tells Senate

    Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture, on Tuesday said some remarks attributed to him on social media should be disregarded.
    Mohammed, who is President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominee recalled that his grandson once asked him if he was a liar.
    he former Minister had been called out on social media for lying to cover-up the current All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government.
    However, speaking during his ministerial confirmation screening on the floor of the senate, Mohammed said: “Don’t believe social media, they call me all sorts of names. My seven-year-old grandson once asked me if my name was Liar Mohammed.”
    Following his submission, the Ogun Central Senator, Ibikunle Amosun said Mohammed should be allowed to take a bow and go.
    “We have all agreed that he will be allowed to take a bow and go. There is no need to ask him questions,” he said.
    Also Bamidele Opeyemi, Senator representing Ekiti Central, said Mohammed’s ministerial nomination in 2015 was compensation from Buhari.
    The Senate had on Tuesday last week commenced the screening of the ministerial nominees Buhari sent to them for confirmation among whom was Mohammed.
    The nominees include: Chris Ngige, Babatunde Fashola, Hadi Sirika, Rotimi Amaechi, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Adamu, and Lai Mohammed.
    Others in the list are: Uche Ogah, Emeka Nwajuiba, Sadiya Farouk, Musa Bello, Godswill Akpabio, Sharon Ikeazor, Ogbonnaya Onu, Akpa Udo, and Adebayo (Ekiti), Timipre Sylva, Adamu Adamu, Shewuye (Borno), Isa Pantami, Gbemi Saraki, Ramatu Tijani, Clement Abam.
    Also listed among the nominees are: Rauf Aregbesola, Paullen Tallen, Abubakar Aliyu, Sale Mamman, Abubakar Malami, Muhammed Mamood, Mustapha Buba Jedi Agba, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Mohammed Dangyadi.

  • Court slates Oct. 2 to hear Lai Mohammed over alleged N2.5bn NBC fraud

    Court slates Oct. 2 to hear Lai Mohammed over alleged N2.5bn NBC fraud

    The former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has been scheduled to appear before a Federal High Court, Abuja, on the 2nd of October, 2019 to explain why he approved the release of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) seed grant to a private company, Pinnacle Communication Limited.
    Mohammed’s appearance is pursuant to a motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, in which the Commission prayed the court to allow him to be called as a witness.
    With this ruling, the former Minister is expected to tell the court why a recommendation for the approval of the seed grant from the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, who is facing charges of abuse of office and money laundering from ICPC, was approved against the government White Paper guiding the process.
    Kawu had on several occasions, told the court that he did not break any law by releasing the seed grant to a private company after getting due approval from the Minister.
    At the resumed hearing, the court also gave permission for the temporal release of the international passports of the Chairman of Pinnacle Communication Limited, Lucky Omoluwa and the Chief Operating Officer, Dipo Onifade, to enable them to travel abroad for an international conference.
    Their counsel, Alex Iziyon (SAN), had filed a motion praying for the release of the passports to enable Omoluwa and Onifade, who are also facing charges of money laundering, to travel to the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands between July and September 2019.
    The motion for the release of the passports was not opposed by counsel to ICPC, Ebenezer Shogunle, who told the court that he had complied with court directives by verifying the addresses of the sureties of the accused persons.
    Justice Giwa then ruled that the passports be released to them on a temporal basis by the Deputy Court Registrar, and be returned to the court on or before the 25th of September, 2019.
    She further ruled that their sureties must submit sworn affidavits to the court to present themselves for detention if any of the accused persons fail to return to the country.
    The case was then adjourned to 2nd October 2019 for the continuation of trial.

  • Alleged fraud: PDP seeks prosecution of Lai Mohammed, Usman Yusuf

    Alleged fraud: PDP seeks prosecution of Lai Mohammed, Usman Yusuf

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday demanded the immediate prosecution of former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over his alleged role in the reported National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) N2.5 billion fraud.
    The party also demanded the prosecution of the sacked Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, over alleged misappropriation of N919 million, as reported by a ministerial panel.
    In a statement in Abuja by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the duo “must not be left off the hook” because of their affinity with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency.
    The party insisted that Mohammed should be prosecuted alongside the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Modibbo Kawu.
    Kawu is facing trial over an alleged N2.5 billion Digital Switchover deal, which was investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

  • We don’t want Lai Mohammed as witness, Defendants tell Court

    Defendants in the case of alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, have countered the application by the prosecution to present former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as a witness in court.
    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC is prosecuting the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Ishaq Kawu in a Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged abuse of office and money laundering
    The Commission had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively.
    In a motion filed before the court, Alex Izinyon, SAN, Counsel to Omoluwa and Onifade, opposed the list of the former minister and Shuaibu Sabo as additional witnesses in the trial as requested by the anti-graft body.
    In the motion, the defendants are seeking the court order, “disallowing/prohibiting or forbidding the complainant/respondent to lead and use the additional list of witness of one Mr Lai Mohammed filed on 2nd June 2019 at the continuation of hearing of this criminal proceeding or any other date whatsoever.
    “And for such further order(s) as this Honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case”.
    It will be recalled that the anti-graft body had said that the former Minister will serve as a prosecution witness in the alleged N2.5 billion fraud trial.
    At the resumed hearing of the trial on Monday, ICPC lawyers, Henry Emore and E. A. Shogunle reminded the court of their application to call the two additional witnesses – Mohammed and Sabo.
    Shogunle said that they had filed a counter affidavit to the motion by the defendants opposing their requests to call Mohammed and Sabo as additional witnesses.
    On his part, Iziyon said the motion was not ripe for hearing because he would be filing a reply on point of law, to the prosecution’s counter affidavit.
    Meanwhile Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa has reprimanded the ICPC for disobeying the order of court regarding the application by the defendants seeking release of their travelling passports.
    The second and third defendants had filed the application seeking the release of their international passports to enable them travel abroad for official functions.
    The judge who had fixed the application for ruling on Monday said the prosecution had failed to carry out her order to verify the addresses and other particulars of the defendants and their sureties. .
    “I cannot give the ruling now because in the course of reviewing the motion, I realised that the prosecution has not carried out the order of the court to verify the addresses of the defendants and their sureties within five days.’’
    Counsel to the prosecution said he had done the verification and satisfied with it after the grey areas observed were addressed by the defendants.
    He, however apologised for his failure to file the report of the verification before the court.
    The judge, who expressed displeasure over failure of the prosecution to file the report of the verification stood down the case for the lawyer to do so.
    She stressed that she could not continue with the case while the prosecution was in disobedience of the court order.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge resumed the case about two hours after the prosecution had complied with the order.
    Upon resumption, the defendants took fresh plea of not guilty to the amended charges brought to them by the prosecution.
    The amended charges, according to ICPC lawyer were largely due to typographical errors which the lawyers to the defendants did not oppose to.
    Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa adjourned the case until July 4 to hear motions on the release of the defendants’ passports and that challenging the listing of Mohammed and Sabo as additional prosecution witnesses

  • NBC’s N2.5bn fraud: Lai Mohammed to appear in court

    Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed has been asked to appear in court over an alleged N2.5 billion fraud case involving the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    The planned appearance of Mohammed was revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), who is prosecuting the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, over an alleged abuse of office and money laundering.

    ICPC is prosecuting Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, NBC’s Director-General, over alleged abuse of office and money laundering.

    ICPC had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively, saying that the NBC director general misled the former Minister into approving government funds to a private company.

    The former Minister’s involvement had come under questioning following discovery by ICPC during investigations, that a government White Paper that governs the execution of the DSO programme was allegedly flouted by the head of NBC.

    Mohammed had, however, admitted in a statement to the Commission that he was misled by Kawu, as opined in court by a witness from ICPC, Osanato Olugbemi.

    Olugbemi, led in evidence by counsel to ICPC, Henry Emore, also told the court that the payment of N2.5 billion from NBC to Pinnacle Communications Limited, as seed grant was suspicious because ICPC found out through its investigations that only government owned company was approved to benefit from the grant according to the White Paper.

    The court also heard that the processes that led to the final payment of the fund to the private company were shrouded in secrecy as revealed by the minute from an NBC emergency board management meeting where issues of carriage fees owed Pinnacle and not seed grant was discussed.

    He told the court that 47 suspicious transactions were originated by the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Omoluwa, immediately after the receipt of the funds on June 2, 2017.

    The transactions includes payments of N363 million to one Idowu Olatunde, N274.4 million to one James Segun and N127 million to Dipo Onifade, the Chief Operating Officer of the company.

    He informed the court that Omoluwa refused to explained the reasons for the payments to Olatunde and James when asked by ICPC, but Onifade explained that he received the N127 million as legal fees he rendered to Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    A Bureau de Change operator, Salisu Mamman Daura, who also testified in court, said he received N167 million in two installments of N97 million and N70 million respectively, from Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    Daura added that the sums were converted into $265, 000 and $195, 735 respectively, at the rate of N360 to an American dollar, and handed in cash to one Alhaji Sabo, supposedly on behalf of Pinnacle Communications.

    Counsel to the accused persons, Alex Iziyon (SAN), A Yusuf and A. V. Etuwewe for Omoluwa, Onifade, Kawu and Pinnacle Communications respectively, took turns to cross-examine both witnesses after which the matter was adjourned to July 1, 2019 for continuation of trial and ruling on two pending motions by the trial judge.

  • N2.5bn NBC fraud: ICPC drags Lai Mohammed to court

    The immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has been scheduled to appear before a Federal High Court, Abuja, to explain his role in the alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme.

    The planned appearance of Mohammed was revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), who is prosecuting the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, over an alleged abuse of office and money laundering.

    ICPC had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively, saying that the NBC director general misled the former Minister into approving government funds to a private company.

    The former Minister’s involvement had come under questioning following discovery by ICPC during investigations, that a government White Paper that governs the execution of the DSO programme was allegedly flouted by the head of NBC.

    Mohammed had however admitted in a statement to the Commission that he was misled by Kawu, as opined in court by a witness from ICPC, Osanato Olugbemi.

    Olugbemi, led in evidence by counsel to ICPC, Henry Emore, also told the court that the payment of N2.5 billion from NBC to Pinnacle Communications Limited, as seed grant was suspicious because ICPC found out through its investigations that only government owned company was approved to benefit from the grant according to the White Paper.

    The court also heard that the processes that led to the final payment of the fund to the private company were shrouded in secrecy as revealed by the minute from an NBC emergency board management meeting where issues of carriage fees owed Pinnacle and not seed grant was discussed.

    He told the court that 47 suspicious transactions were originated by the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Omoluwa, immediately after the receipt of the funds on June 2, 2017.

    The transactions include payments of N363 million to one Idowu Olatunde, N274.4 million to one James Segun and N127 million to Dipo Onifade, the Chief Operating Officer of the company.

    He informed the court that Omoluwa refused to explain the reasons for the payments to Olatunde and James when asked by ICPC, but Onifade explained that he received the N127 million as legal fees he rendered to Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    A Bureau de Change operator, Salisu Mamman Daura, who also testified in court, said he received N167 million in two installments of N97 million and N70 million respectively, from Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    Daura added that the sums were converted into $265, 000 and $195, 735 respectively, at the rate of N360 to an American dollar, and handed in cash to one Alhaji Sabo, supposedly on behalf of Pinnacle Communications.

    Counsel to the accused persons, Alex Iziyon (SAN), A Yusuf and A. V. Etuwewe for Omoluwa, Onifade, Kawu and Pinnacle Communications respectively, took turns to cross-examine both witnesses after which the matter was adjourned to July 1, 2019 for continuation of trial and ruling on two pending motions by the trial judge.

  • Lai Mohammed’s constituents kick against his ministerial re-appointment

    The Youth Wing of the Kwara South Forum has kicked against ministerial re-appointment of the immediate past minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The group in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday challenged Mohammed to name his achievements for the area since his four years in the office.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was signed by representatives of the six local government councils that made up the senatorial district.

    They are Kayode Adesina from Oyun local government area; Deji Aina, Ekiti; AbdulRahman Oyinloye, Ifelodun; Rasheed Shogo, Offa; Sunday Adekeye, Isin and AbdulRahim Lawal, Oke-Ero.

    The group noted that the call became necessary due to lack of responsibility to the people of the State he represented in the Federal Executive Council in the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    NAN recalls that the statement was released less than a month after a similar one by the Kwara South Elders Forum.

    They, however, insisted that the former minister should come out boldly and mention his achievements in the state.

    They explained that they were in support of the position of Kwara South Elders Forum, saying that the forum consisted of eminent persons from the district.

    According to the group “for clarity sake, Kwara South elders forum precedes APC as it had been in existence over the years.

    “It is on record that all the governorship candidates including His Excellency, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Senatorial and House Of Representative candidates from Kwara South all consulted the forum for endorsement and support in the last election.

    “That shows the recognition we all have for the forum,”the group said.

    They claimed that whoever that was working for the re-appointment of the ex-minister is promoting anti-people interest.

    “They should let us unite and promote someone who will care about the welfare, interest and aspiration of Kwarans as a minister and not a greedy, self-centered person who is not interested in the development and progress of our dear state,” the group stated.

  • Lai Mohammed condoles with Oyedepo over wife’s death

    Lai Mohammed condoles with Oyedepo over wife’s death

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Friday condoled with Dr Hezekiah Oyedepo over the death of his wife and General Manager of the National Theatre, Dr Stella Oyedepo.

    The minister had led top management officials of the ministry to the family house of the Oyedepos in Ilorin to condole with the family.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Grace Gekpe, as well as Directors and Special Advisers to the minister were in the delegation.

    The minister described the death of the National Theatre boss as “sad and shocking, ” adding that the entire ministry had lost a great administrator in her.

    He said the deceased was a great enthusiast of culture who left good footprints on the sands of time and beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    “I am here with the top management of the ministry to condole with you on the tragic and sad loss of one of the CEOs of one of our parastatals, the National Theatre,

    “The late Dr Stella Oyedepo was a colleague, a friend, a woman who had infected us with her enthusiasm about positive attitude about life.

    “We were all shocked when we heard the news of her death, but we must accept that God has destined it to happen,” he said.

    The minister said that the deceased left very big imprints in the national eco system of the creative industry.

    “ In the one year she spent as the CEO of the National Theatre, we will continue to remember her enthusiasm, passion and resolute decision to move the establishment to greater heights.

    “When the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture, Sen. Fatima Raji-Rasaki, called me yesterday, it was the infectious and passionate nature of Dr Oyedepo that struck her most,” he said.

    The husband, in a brief remark, described his late wife as an “irreplaceable partner” whose death left indelible memories in him and the family.

    He thanked the minister, management and members of staff of the ministry for the condolence visit.

    NAN reports that when the delegation was offering prayers for the family, Dr David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, came in.

    The clergy man, who is a cousin of the deceased’s husband, joined in the prayer session and offered special prayers for all.

    The late Oyedepo, who died in an accident on Easter Monday on her way to Lagos, was appointed as National Theatre’s General Manager in April 2018.

    She was a foremost Nigerian playwright who had written over 300 plays over the course of her career, with 30 published.

    The 65-year-old playwright was also an ex-director of the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture.