Obi/Oyedepo call: NCC denies phone tracking, leakage claims

Timi Frank slams DSS as Buhari seeks Senate approval of Data Protection Bill
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has denied claims of telephone tracking and leakage against it in the media.

NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, stated, yesterday, that the commission had been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” against it by some individuals and groups in the social and conventional media.

Denying the allegations in their entirety, NCC noted that by the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant laws of the federation, it does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

NCC informed that it reported the allegations, which it took seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them,” it added.

MEANWHILE, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has faulted the leakage of the conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide.

The Bayelsa activist, in a statement, yesterday, described the act allegedly perpetrated by the Department of State Services (DSS) as highly unprofessional and smacks of partisanship.

According to him, the DSS has metamorphosed into an intelligence arm of APC and called for total overhaul of the security outfit.

Frank called on the DSS to wake up and restore the lost confidence Nigerians have in its leadership.

He said: “It is worrisome when the most sophisticated security agency in the country descends into the arena of politics to favour the ruling party.”

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to consider and approve the Nigerian Data Protection Bill before it.

The President’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and read on the floor of the red chamber, yesterday.

The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 58 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, I forward, herewith, the Nigerian Data Protection Bill for consideration and approval of by the Senate.”

The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission for regulation of laws on personal information.

In a separate letter, Buhari urged the Senate to approve the re-appointment of Abdul Abubakar as Non-Executive Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a second and final term.

Still in another letter, the President transmitted a bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institution, for consideration and approval by the Senate.

The President also sought Senate’s approval for reimbursement, through issuance of promissory notes to Plateau and Borno, N6.6 billion and N3.8 billion, respectively, for road projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.