…... Station To Pay N5million fine within 2 weeks
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for airing incisive comments by the Vice presidential candidate of the Labour party Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed,
The sanction is contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27.
The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by the Director -General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah, and reads in part:
“The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.
“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,”
Ilelah noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
This, according to him, included the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.
He said according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.
The DG recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast. to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.
“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 only in the first instance,”
He warned that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.
“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.
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