President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the suspension of Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu.

The suspension is coming many months after an ongoing prosecution of Kawu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged corruption.

According to PUNCH, Kawu received the suspension letter in the course of the week but had been fighting tooth and nail to have it overturned.

“I have confirmed from the relevant department, it is true that the DG of NBC, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, was ordered to be suspended by the President (Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) following series of petitions and allegations against him,” PUNCH quoted Sources from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to have said.

Meanwhile, another source said he was only asked to “step aside” pending conclusion of investigation of the petitions against him.

Consequently, the Director (Broadcast Monitoring), Armstrong Idachaba, was said to have been directed to act pending the outcome of the case.

When contacted, the spokesperson for NBC, Ekanem Antia, said he could not speak on the issue as he had not been furnished with details of the allegation.

“I am not aware (of it), as we speak now. I don’t have any document on my table to confirm (it). But we will issue a statement if at all it is true. The office is still working; we are all in the office. Everybody is in their department,” he said.