The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for breaking the broadcasting law over its interview with the Vice-Presidential candidate of Labour party, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Baba-Ahmed in the interview had warned President Muhammadu Buhari against holding the inauguration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his victory in the February 25 election was unconstitutional.
On March 27, the sanction was communicated to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station in a letter titled ‘Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction’, and 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.
‘Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,’ Ilelah said in the letter.
The NCC chairman stated that the interview was volatile and capable of inciting 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 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 the subversion of constituted authority.
‘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.
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.
This sanction is coming after the President-elect, Bola Tinubu petitioned the commission over the interview.
