By Juliet Jacob
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 TV Chief Executive Officer titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”and obtained by Africa Health Report, AHR, in Abuja, the NBC said the television station violated Nigeria’s broadcasting code.
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.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”
He noted the broadcast was volatile and capable of public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
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.
Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority. He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.
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 only in the first instance,” he said.
