Cover

FG Fines Channels TV N5 Million Over Interview With Datti Baba-Ahmed

Published

on

Channels Television has been fined N5 million by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over an interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.

In a March 27 letter addressed to Channels Chief Executive Officer and obtained on Friday in Abuja, the NBC said the television station violated broadcasting code.

Advertisement

Titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, the letter was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

It read 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.

Advertisement

“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Mr Ilelah said in the letter.

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

Advertisement

This, according to him, includes 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.

Mr Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.

Advertisement

RELATED POST:
Tinubu Calls for Channels Tv to be Sanctioned by NBC

He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.

Advertisement

This, he said, was 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 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

Advertisement

He added 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.

Advertisement

(NAN)

Source: vanguard

Advertisement

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Exit mobile version