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Media: Murdoch’s Empire is Scorch, Terror Bombs in Nigeria

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Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate
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These are certainly not the best of times for the media industry, especially in Britain and Nigeria where a Parliamentary inquiry has indicted a much respected Octogenarian media mogul and terrorists unleashing bombs on media houses respectively.

The British Parliament after several weeks of probe into the infamous telephone and email hacking by now rested News of the World’s (NoW) and other media outfits of the globally renowned media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, slammed the Aussie with a damming verdict: “not a fit person” to head a media company.

That is a very audacious and damning statement against such a global figure.

The Parliamentary committee with compiled the report notes that Murdoch “turned a blind eye and exhibited willful blindness” as his media empire virtually stole into individual and corporation’s phone voice-mails, emails and bought their way into the otherwise “impeccable” British Bobby (Police).

For a society that expresses human freedom and dignity, such sentiments and strong wordings in a Parliamentary report about a man who has done so much for the British economy and society was rather hash.

Professor George Brock, head of journalism institute at London’s City University expressed similar sentiments when the Voice of America (VOA) spoke to him.

“I think the report has taken one or two people, including me, a bit by surprise because you can be declared unfit to hold a broadcasting license if you are, in the phrase in the law, ‘a not fit and proper person,” said Brock.

The principal target also appears to be Murdoch’s 40 per cent holding in the highly successfully, perhaps Europe’s largest cableTV channel, BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting).

It was BSkyB’s involvement with the English football that has brought an otherwise drab football league into one of the most successful global brands in sports marketing.

The BSkyB has ensured that the English Premier League players are about the best paid in the world of football – although not necessarily the finest players.

Manchester United and Arsenal (due principally to the shrewd business application of its French manager, Arsene Wenger), are about the only clubs ranked among the financially solvent in Europe.

In Brock’s eyes, the damning report could lead to the octogenarian stepping aside for others to take charge.

 Even then, his eldest son, James Murdoch is also in the eye of the storm in the UK as head of the News International operations.

Like the eldest Murdoch, James at his several appearances before the Parliamentary Committee denied knowledge of every sinister move by the News Corp staff at obtaining information.

“One of the outcomes that people have always considered possible is that Murdoch, who is now aged 81, might have to step back from control of the company. I do not think he particularly wants to do that. But there has to come a moment sooner or later where he is going to step back. And it could be that the scandal is going to get so bad that it’s quite possible that he could step back, yes,” said Brock.

BSkyB issued a statement last week saying it was a “fit and proper” establishment. The satellite broadcaster noted that it was liaising with UK broadcast and communication regulator, OFCOM on one of the committee’s statements on “whether BSkyB is and remains fit and proper to continue to hold its broadcast licenses.”

BSkyB said would continue the process of “engaging with OFCOM in this process and continues to believe that it remains a fit and proper license holder, as demonstrated by its positive contribution to U.K. audiences, employment and the broader economy, as well as its strong record of regulatory compliance and high standards of governance.”

The scandal has led to the resignation of Jeremy Hunt, special adviser to Adam Smith, the UK’s Culture Minister. Hunt was accused of leaking documents to aid News Corp’s bid to take total control of BSyB.

While news of  the terrorist group, Boko Haram bombing notable media house like ThisDay and others rent the air last week, Nigeria’s National Assembly remain ordinary to the issue. It has not raised any panel of inquiry to the attacks on journalists and media houses, neither has it called on the security chiefs to step up or resign.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian journalist remains endangered specie: he is hunted by the state for being not hiding truth, hated by the society he serves for being corrupt and targeted by criminals for not being fair.

The import of the British Parliamentary Committee’s report and the reverberating effects should dawn on Nigeria which has held several Parliamentary probe reports without any consequential effects on the society.

Severally, the National Assembly has held probes into activities of telecom regulatory framework and operators’ business modules only to be consigned to the file cabinets.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, deputy president of the Senate last week decried the activities of the MDAs which have no clearly defined boundaries of operation leading to conflicts.

He specifically lambasted the Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NASREA), two MDAs that recently went to the gutters over the regulation of telecom infrastructure.

The Senator who spoke through a representative at the 2012 Beacon of ICT Awards & Distinguished Lecture Series organized by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said the two chambers of the National Assembly would look at ways to correct the laws setting up the MDAs to prevent further operational conflicts.

How far this would materialise depends entirely on the Nigerian Parliament to act!


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NDIC Reinforces Full Oversight Compliance to Safeguard Depositors

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Mr. Thompson Sunday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has reaffirmed the Corporation’s strict compliance with fiscal and financial regulations, including the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, noting that the NDIC has consistently remitted the required percentage of its earnings to the Federal Government.

Mr. Sunday made this known during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, as part of NDIC’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders following his formal assumption of office in July 2025.

According to him, NDIC takes financial accountability and transparency seriously, stressing that the Corporation complies fully with statutory remittance obligations, including the payment of 20 per cent of gross earnings or 80 per cent of net surplus to the Federal Government, as applicable. He added that NDIC also submits its financial statements ahead of statutory deadlines.

The NDIC MD/CE explained that this culture of compliance aligns with the Corporation’s role as a key institution within Nigeria’s financial safety-net, charged with protecting depositors and promoting confidence in the banking system. He emphasized that adherence to fiscal discipline remains central to NDIC’s credibility and effectiveness.

Mr. Sunday further disclosed that NDIC also complies with the Federal Government’s 50 per cent cost-to-income ratio policy, although he noted that the policy poses operational constraints. He explained that the deductions affect NDIC’s ability to build a strong Deposit Insurance Fund, which is needed to respond effectively to bank failures.

He stressed that international best practices under the Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance issued by the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) require deposit insurers to maintain adequate funds to reimburse depositors when banks fail without recourse to government, adding that the NDIC is seeking an exemption to strengthen its capacity in this regard.

Mr. Sunday described MOFI as a critical stakeholder, noting that the Federal Government, through MOFI, holds a 40 per cent equity stake in NDIC. He said sustained collaboration with MOFI is essential to ensuring that NDIC continues to meet its obligations to government while effectively safeguarding depositors’ funds.

In his remarks, Dr. Takang commended the NDIC for its exemplary collaborative spirit and acknowledged the Corporation’s compliance with fiscal regulations. He assured that MOFI would continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance on NDIC’s behalf, noting that a strong NDIC is vital to sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, transparency and accountability, with Mr. Sunday reiterating that NDIC remains focused on balancing regulatory compliance with its overriding mandate of depositor protection and financial system stability.


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T2 Backs Youth Excellence as NCBC Wins Bosun Tijani Foundation Basketball Tournament

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T2 has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development and excellence through sport as the NCBC basketball team, adopted by the brand, emerged champions of the Bosun Tijani Foundation Youth Basketball Tournament held at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja, Abeokuta.

The tournament, organised by the Bosun Tijani Foundation in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and supported by several partners including T2, brought together 12 competitive teams from across Nigeria, positioning basketball as a powerful platform for youth engagement, discipline, and opportunity.

NCBC’s championship run reflected the values T2 seeks to champion, work ethic, intelligence, teamwork, and resilience. The team recorded commanding victories over Team Vision, Warlords, and Elevate before defeating the Ilupjeu Raiders 66–52 in a gripping final.

Commenting on the adoption of the team, Seni Ogunkola, Vice President, Brands and Communication, T2 stated “NCBC embodies the qualities we believe in, exceptional work rate, intelligence on the ball, discipline, and a hunger to excel. By supporting them, T2 is investing in potential, purpose, and the next generation of leaders on and off the court.”

The climax of the event saw His Royal Highness, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, present the trophy to the victorious team, drawing rapturous applause from spectators. The event was also attended by the Chief of Staff to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Lere Olayinka, and the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Wasiu Isiaka, underscoring strong institutional support for youth-focused initiatives.

Through its participation in the tournament, T2 continues to position itself as a brand that goes beyond sponsorship, championing platforms that unlock talent, inspire ambition, and create lasting social impact for Nigerian youth.


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Ecobank Guarantees Seamless Digital Banking Services Throughout the Christmas and Year-End Period

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Ecobank Nigeria, a member of Africa’s leading pan-African banking group, has assured customers of uninterrupted access to banking services throughout the year-end holiday period via its secure and robust digital platforms. The Bank also urged customers to remain vigilant against fraud and scams during the festive season.

Ecobank Guarantees Seamless Digital Banking Services Throughout the Christmas and Year-End Period

Ecobank Bank

Speaking on the development, Victor Yalokwu, Head, Products & Analytics, Consumer & Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, said the Bank’s digital channels – including the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Business App, USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, OmniPlus, Omnilite, EcobankPay, RapidTransfer, Ecobank Cards, ATMs, PoS terminals, and over 35,000 Ecobank Xpress Point (Agent Banking) locations nationwide – will remain fully available to support customers throughout the yuletide and year-end holiday period.

He noted that customers will continue to enjoy a wide range of services during the period, including local and international funds transfers, bill payments and airtime top-ups, merchant payments, balance inquiries and account statements, as well as cardless cash withdrawals via ATMs.

According to Yalokwu, “Ecobank encourages customers to leverage these digital solutions for safe, fast, and efficient banking, especially during the festive season when convenience and reliability are essential.

“While physical branch operations may be subject to adjusted working hours in line with public holidays, customers can be assured that Ecobank’s digital platforms are designed to deliver uninterrupted service and enhanced security at all times.

“Ecobank remains committed to providing innovative financial solutions and exceptional customer service, and we wish all our customers a joyful festive season and a prosperous New Year.”

Yalokwu also cautioned customers to remain vigilant against fraudsters and scammers during the period. “Before you wrap up the year, tighten your security. December brings online sales, travel, and year-end distractions—this is exactly when scammers are most active. From fake festive deals to cloned merchant sites and suspicious messages, staying vigilant helps keep your money safe.”

He advised customers to shop only on trusted websites, never share their PINs, passwords, or one-time passwords (OTPs), avoid banking on public Wi-Fi networks, be cautious of urgent or emotionally charged messages, and regularly review their account activity.


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