FG fines Channels TV N5 million for airing an interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed

BY: News Peddlers 

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed

Channels Television was fined N5 million by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for airing an interview with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.

The NBC stated that the television station violated broadcasting code in a March 27 letter addressed to Channels Chief Executive Officer and obtained on Friday in Abuja.

The letter, titled "Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction," was signed by the commission's Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.

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,” Mr Ilelah said in the letter.

He stated that the broadcast was volatile and had the potential to incite public disorder, and thus violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

This, he claims, includes the section that states that no broadcast shall encourage or incite, be repugnant to public feelings, contain offensive references to any person or organisation, living or dead, or be generally disrespectful to human dignity.

According to the broadcasting code, broadcasters must ensure that no programme contains anything that amounts to subversion of constituted authority, according to Mr Ilelah.

He recalled that the NBC had several times asked Channels Television to consider public interest before broadcasting a programme.

This, he claimed, was to prevent the country from devolving into anarchy.

"As a result, 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 infractions," he said.

He also stated that any future violations by the television station would result in harsher penalties.

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

(NAN)