Board Writes Buhari to Suspend NCC Boss over Interference

Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, chairman, governing board, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, over the interference John Ohireime Asein, director general  of the commission with the on-going investigation of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and violating official secrets act and Public Service Rules.

John Ohireime Asein, DG, NCC

The DG of the NCC was accused of working with Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria, one of the private collective management organisations licensed and regulated by the NCC, under the WIPO-ABS project including receipt and disbursement of monies as well as operation of the domiciliary bank account of REPRONIG as the sole signatory.

He was also accused of depositing funds into the bank accounts of members of the governing board without a prior agreement or resolution of the board.

In his words;

“There is urgent need for your intervention by way of suspension of Mr. John Asein, Director-general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission pending completion of the investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

“Your intervention is necessary to prevent Mr. John Asein from compromising the on-going investigation by the CCB through his publications in online newspapers, etc.

“This publication of the contents of an official memo in an online newspaper is a violation of both the Official Secrets Act and Public Service Rules by his Publication.”