Obi-Oyedepo audio: Controversyat NCC over data privacy

Nigerians continued to raised serious concerns over the safety of their calls , conversations and interactions on their phone mobile networks after purported conversations between Peter Obi the Labour Party presidential candidate and
the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo went viral.

Public concerns over the weeks arose from viral audio purported to have emanated from a conversation between Peter Obi and the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo though the conversation even though it has been established to be fake, created with technological software.

Disturbed by the concern, the telecoms regulating agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission on
Tuesday came under severe criticisms as Nigerians clamoured to know how safe their privacy was across Nigerian telephony spectrum.

So many calls and inquiries, we gathered, had originated from private and corporate bodies, demanding explanations from the NCC to this effect. In a swift reaction, however, the director of Public Affairs in the agency, Reuben Morka, issued a statement which read:

“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative media.

“The Commission wishes to make the
following clarifications: i. The
Commission denies the allegations in their entirety.

“ii. By the provisions of
the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the
Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone
conversations of anyone.

iii. The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper
investigation and necessary
action.

iv.“The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people
in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best
practices.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to
disregard them.”