Gwandu Loses Job in NCC Frequency Band Racketeering Saga

Dr.  Bashir Gwandu, executive commissioner, (Technical Services), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who exposed the frequency band racketeering at the NCC has been relieved of his duty by the federal government.

Though his sack was made known last night, the FG said it took effect from November 9, 2012.

Dr.  Gwandu could not be reached for comments but sources to the Presidency said he was sacked for raising false alarm in the frequency racketeering saga and for gross insubordination to the current leadership of the NCC.

Dr. Gwandu and the NCC where he served as top official made massive media feast of the frequency band racketeering allegations involving the alleged sale of the frequency spectrum belonging to the Nigeria Police Force to a private company, Open Skys Ltd.

The frequency band 450MHz occupied by the police since 2009 was allegedly sold to Open Skys Ltd. without any competitive bid process as provided by the NCC Act 2003, nor consideration for national security.

The 450MHZ frequency is valued at over $50million, but was sold for less than $6million by Dr Eugene Juwah , executive vice chairman of NCC, on September 26, 2011, to Open Skys Ltd, a company said to be owned mainly by Mr Emeka Offor and his associates; NigComsat Ltd owns 25 per cent of the company’s shares.

NCC however said that the allegation lacked basic understanding of frequency allocation and its processes involved, resulting in unsubstantiated information capable of misleading the public and industry stakeholders.

Reuben Muoka, head, Media & Public Relations of the NCC in a statement said that “the frequencies allocated to Open Skys and Smile Communications are in two frequency different bands, and followed a due process for similar frequencies at the Commission, and began since 2009.

That the Frequency spectrum allocated to the Police by the Commission is intact and has not n any way affected by the allocation” he said