Ilelah said the NBC had engaged Channels TV severally to consider the public interest before any programme is broadcast.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a N5 million fine to Channels TV for allegedly breaking the broadcasting law in a programme with the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The NBC, according to NAN, made this known in a letter dated March 27 and addressed to the station’s chief executive officer.
NBC Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah, signed the letter titled: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”.
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.
“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”
The NBC described the statement by Baba-Ahmed as volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
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This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain an 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 a subversion of constituted authority.
He recalled that NBC had engaged Channels TV severally to consider the 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 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.
The NBC added that any further infraction by Channels TV 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,” he said.
