The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday queried Channels Television over an interview granted to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
Ortom, who was a guest on their flagship programme, Sunrise Daily, on Tuesday, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to “Fulanise” Nigeria.
He further faulted the President’s decision to review grazing reserves across the country, describing it as unconstitutional.
There was confusion earlier as to what happened.
Some reports claimed that the Channels TV crew of Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu who conducted the interview had been arrested by agents of the Department of State Service (DSS).
But enquiries by TheNiche found the report to be untrue.
When a Channels TV source who did not want his name mentioned was asked if Chamberlain and Kayode had been arrested, he replied, “No.”
But he disclosed that the duo had been invited by the NBC.
Later, a letter signed by NBC Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah dated August 24, said Channels TV violated six of its codes during the broadcast of the interview.
The NBC said the comments of the Governor were “divisive, inciting and unfair”, adding that Channels TV anchors did not “thoroughly interrogate” Ortom.
“The national broadcasting commission monitored the broadcast of your program Sunrise Daily between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Tuesday,” the letter reads.
“The programme which had as guest the executive governor of Benue State governor Samuel Ortom was observed to contain inciting divisive and unfair comments which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors.
“This negates the following provisions of the Nigeria broadcasting code. Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response should reach the commission within 24 hours of receipt of this letter.”
This is not the first time Channels TV will be queried by NBC.
In April, the agency suspended the broadcast license of Channels Television and imposed a N5 million fine on the station for alleged breach of the broadcast code in its live programme titled: “Politics Today”.