The Nigerian Communications Commission has debunked the allegations that it was responsible for leaking the audio of a telephone conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo.
The NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, refuted the claims in a statement on Tuesday.
While distancing the commission from the leaked audio, Muoka noted that it was bound by the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and therefore “cannot track nor leak telephone conversations to anyone.”
According to him, the NCC had been overwhelmed with enquiries by the media adding that the statement was to set the record straight.
“The Nigerian Communications Commission 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,” the statement read
“The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications: The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety; By the provisions of the Nigerian Communications 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 revealed that it had reported the allegations to the relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.
It also restated 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; 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,” he added
A audio clip had on Saturday went viral in which Obi was heard asking Oyedepo to help spread his message to Christians in the South-West and parts of North-Central, Kwara to be precise.
“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South-West and Kwara, the Christians in the South-West and Kwara, this is a religious war.
“If this works, you people will never regret this works, you people will never regret this support,” Obi had said in the audio clip
In response, Oyedepo said, “I believe that, I believe that, I believe that.
In his swift reaction through his Media Aide, Obi, said the leaked audio was edited out of context.
Also, Oyedepo said on Sunday that he never campaigned for any politician or spoke on their behalf in the build-up to the general elections.
“I have never campaigned for anybody or spoken on anybody’s behalf and I will not do that till I go to heaven.
“There is no (political) party in this country that didn’t come to me for prayers and advice,” Oyedepo reacted