NBC slams Channels TV with a N5 million fine for violating the broadcast rule

 

NBC slams Channels TV with a N5 million fine for violating the broadcast rule during an interview with Baba Datti-Ahmed, the vice presidential candidate for the Labour party.

Channels Television was fined N5 million by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for breaking the law when it conducted an interview with Labour Party vice presidential nominee Datti Baba-Ahmed.

A letter from Balarabe Ilelah, the director-general of the commission, bearing the subject line "Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction," was used to inform the television station's CEO of the penalty.

In part, it stated

On March 22, Seun Okibaloye, the host of Politics Today, conducted a live interview with Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party. The interview was aired on NBC. Because of electoral irregularities, according to Dr. Baba-Ahmed, swearing in a president on May 29, 2023, will be unconstitutional. 

The NCC head claimed that the interview broke some rules of the broadcasting code because it was explosive and had the potential to cause a riot.

This, in his opinion, includes the clause that states that no broadcast shall encourage or incite, be offensive to the emotions of the general public, contain a reference to any living or deceased person or organization, or generally be disrespectful of human dignity.

Ilelah continued by saying that in accordance with the broadcasting code, broadcasters were required to make sure that no show held anything that could be considered a subversion of established authority.

Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance for the following violations, he said.

He further stated that the television network would face harsher penalties for any future violations.

The NBC Director-General stated, "You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated."

Following Bola Tinubu's petition to the commission regarding the interview, the commission has now imposed this penalty. Read this.