TheCable

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters, an online medium, alleging that it received N1billion from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for a non-existent digital learning scheme.

The NITDA, through its legal representatives – Arthur Nylander Barristers and Solicitors said the report had alleged that Dr Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy had directed NCC’s vice chairman to release the said amount to it for the project.

The letter which was signed by Leslie Olutayo Nylander, Olumide Phillips Esq, stated that NITDA had never promoted any programme with the title “Digital Learning Scheme” and has therefore “never received any sum from the NCC for this phantom project or any other project.”

It added that as it is with all federal public institutions, the NITDA has a strict budgeting and accounting process where all its financial dealings are reviewed by the oversight committees of the national assembly.

“We wish to state further to our client’s instructions, publicly and unequivocally, that the allegation is mendacious, wicked, false, malicious and defamatory to our Client, its supervisory and affiliated institutions,” the statement read.

“The publication is also a calculated attempt to smear the image of the aforesaid Honourable Minister. For the avoidance of doubt, our Client is not promoting and has never promoted any programme with the title “Digital Learning Scheme” and has therefore never received any sum from the NCC for this phantom project or any other project.

“Further, our client, as all other Federal Public Institutions, has a strict budgeting and accounting process that is reviewed by the oversight committees of the National Assembly. It is therefore unthinkable, malicious and irresponsible for the said Reporters to insinuate or infer that the honourable minister could order NCC to release One Billion Naira (N1BN) or any sum for that matter without budgetary approval.”

The NITDA called on Sahara Reporters to withdraw the said publication from all its platforms, while also demanding an apology from the organisation.

According the letter, the apology must be published in “three widely read national dailies and their online platforms within seven days.

The NITDA threatened to take legal action against the media organisation if its demands were not met within the stipulated deadline.

“Notice is hereby given to Sahara Reporters, its agents, privies, assigns and any other person{s} acting on their behalf, all print and online media outlets in Nigeria and any other person{s} {domestic and foreign} to cease and desist forthwith from further publishing, circulating or otherwise propagating the contents of the malicious piece, otherwise, our Client shall be constrained to ventilate its grievances against such reportage, exploring all legal strategies at its disposal, in seeking a halt to any damaging coverage and/or publication,” the statement added.