Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
has closed down indefinitely the newly established REACH FM allegedly
owned by Governor Rochas Okorocha for illegally operating without
licence.
Disclosing this to newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday, the
capital of Imo State, Director, Media Operation Unit of NBC, Alhaji
Bugudu Almalik said that listeners of the illegally established radio
would be wondering why the “Reach Fm 104.7” purportedly owned by
Governor Rochas Okorocha has suddenly gone off air, he maintained that
reason was that the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation has shut down the
station. Alhaji Almalik further hinted that neither the name of
Rochas Okorocha nor any member of his family was issued with radio
operating license, and wondered why individual could resume operation of
a radio station when neither his name nor his agent reflected in the
board of trustees of the firm that applied for Reach FM. According to
him, having failed to secure a radio license, Okorocha connived with
some NBC workers to locate owners of approved licenses that were not in
operation, saying that when they found one that was not in use, he
bought over their license in the form of partnership, describing it as
an action that is not allowed by NBC laws.
Furthering, he added
that following their lack of regard for due process, Governor Okorocha
in connivance with one Mr. Kennedy Zanders commenced broadcasting in the
station without NBC visitation, confirmation nor approval, expressing
bitterness that the act drew the anger of the NBC who since ordered the
immediate closure of the station with an ongoing probe on how he
obtained Reach FM license.
In his separate revelation, a casual
worker at the NBC office Abuja disclosed that following the immediate
closure of Reach FM, Okorocha had commenced lobbying within and outside
NBC to cover up the offence, which he described as criminal.
Meanwhile,
findings have shown that the license issued to a moribund radio station
seven years ago before Governor Okorocha bought it for Reach FM was to
be a community radio with a few kilometers radius reach, but Okorocha in
his behaviour installed mega transmitters that cover the entire South
East and beyond with impunity.
Analysts believe Okorocha was
quick to kick start broadcasting in the station not minding NBC
procedures because he wanted to use the station to launder his bartered
image in the South east, having realized that people no longer listen to
IBC Orient radio because of him.
No comments
Post a Comment