#TrackNigeria- The Digital Switch Over (DSO) was officiaĺly launched by the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2016 with equipment and facilities of Pinnacle Communications Limited atop the Mpape Hill, Abuja, Alheri Saidu, legal adviser of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) confirmed while testifying before the Federal High Court, Abuja Wednesday.
She was a witness summoned by
the ICPC to testify in the alleged N 2.5billion fraud charges it filed against
the DG of the NBC, Malam Ishaq Modobbo Kawu and three others and she also
stated that Pinnacle Communications Limited ìs a major stakeholder in the DSO
NIGERIA project.
Responding to questions during cross
examination, Alheri Saidu said there was no legislative document covering
implementation of the DSO as the White Paper was a policy guide referred to in
implementing the project. She read from an official document on the DSO which
states that the DSO is “under strict supervision of the Minister of
Information,” adding that there was no more superior approval than
ministerial approval for the NBC concerning the DSO.
Also testifying, Chukwuemeka Linus Iwunna, assistant director human resources department of the NBC and secretary to its management meetings, disclosed in his testimony that an emergency management meeting was summoned by the DG Ishaq Modibbo Kawu to discuss request for payment from Pinnacle Communications Limited and that the minutes he produced was what transpired during the meeting.
