Board petitions Buhari to suspend NCC boss, Asein over interference

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

Asein 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.

The DG NCC 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.

Jaja’s petition read in part: “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.”