THE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for breaching the broadcasting law in a programme with the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
This is contained in a letter, titled, ‘Broadcast of an Inciting Interview: A Sanction’, signed by the commission’s Director-General Balarabe Ilelah.
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The letter, dated March 27, was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Baba-Ahmed had on March 23, during an interview with Channels Television, said that the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be inaugurated as the president, claiming that there was no president elect.
Baba-Ahmed questioned the process through which Tinubu was elected, and alleged that his declaration violated the Nigeria constitution.
“Tinubu has not satisfied the requirement to be declared president-elect. Accordingly, there is no president-elect for Nigeria now because the declared one violated the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am not speaking illegally; to the contrary I am supporting the constitution.
“It’s better for the powers that be to go and create an additional six per cent out of thin air and rigged it back to Tinubu and go ahead and take the risk of swearing him in as the president that has not met the constitutional requirement,” he said.
The NBC boss, however, described the statement by Baba-Ahmed as volatile and capable of inciting public disorder, adding that it violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
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.”
“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.
Ilelah added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.
According to him, Channels TV has two weeks to pay the fine.
“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the letter stated.