A Coalition of Independent Online Media Platforms has described as misleading and politically motivated, a publication by Sahara Reporters alleging that relatives of Senate President Akpabio, Speaker Abbas and other political elites secured jobs at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) without due process.
This was contained in a statement issued by the media platform which was signed by Olubade Jimoh and Ibrahim Umar, Chairman and Secretary respectively.
According to the statement, the report which was published by Sahara Reporters dated September 29, 2025, titled: “EXCLUSIVE: How Relatives of Senate President Akpabio, Speaker Abbas, Other Political Elites Secured NCC Jobs Without Due Process,” was allegedly orchestrated to malign the person and office of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida.
They described the report as not only factually shallow but reeks of a coordinated attempt to undermine his credibility, incite distrust in public institutions, and ultimately set him at odds with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Despite its sensational headline, the article provides no verifiable documents or proof. It merely floats names and speculative associations. Without internal memos or evidence of process violations, the story amounts to conjecture not journalism.
“The story, which continues to repeat a narrative that was published several months is a planted fictitious tale that conspicuously fails to provide the response made by the NCC to this issue months back when it first arose.
“It is especially ridiculous and indeed laughable that the report suggests Dr. Maida is seeking political relevance by allegedly going against the same President who appointed him. What relevance, if we must ask, would a technocrat gain by joining forces with an opposition that holds no power at the center?
“The claim lacks both political logic and common sense. The suggestion that Dr. Maida is working against the President is not only baseless but insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians who know better.
“It is no coincidence that this publication surfaces at a time when the NCC is undergoing serious reforms under Dr. Maida, both internally and in the telecommunications industry.
“We have come to understand that these reforms are unsettling to entrenched interests who now resort to blackmail via unverified media reports. We see this for what it is, a desperate move to derail progress” the statement said.
According to the statement, since Dr. Maida assumed office, he has insisted on transparency as an approach in how the NCC will conduct its work, adding that he has also ensured that trainings which used to be allocated to staff based on favoritism are now spread across cadres with focus on competencies.
“As online publishers, we believe in press freedom and responsibility. We urge Sahara Reporters and others to verify claims before publication, rather than weaponizing journalism for political vendettas.
“Dr. Aminu Maida remains a committed public servant executing the mandate of the Federal Government under President Tinubu in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
“Attempts to discredit him through unsubstantiated publications will not stand. We reject this smear campaign in its entirety and commend the Presidency for remaining focused on performance, not propaganda”
