The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of five million Naira on Channels Television for allegedly breaking Nigeria’s broadcasting law while hosting an interview with Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate.

The decision was contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27,2023, titled: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”. The letter was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

Balarabe Ilellah, NBC DG

Mr. Ilelah in the letter said: “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.

According to him, the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

He said this includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.

The NBC Director General added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.

He said the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast. This, he said, was to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.

“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 .

It will be recalled that on March 30,2023, All Progressives Congress, presidential campaign council Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, had petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to sanction Channels Television for breaching the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during an interview with the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba Ahmed.

Mr. Onanuga in the petition said “In line with Section 14.0.1 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code 6th edition stating the duty of the commission to accept complaints from aggrieved persons, bodies or members of the public and investigate as well as apply sanctions where necessary, the APC PCC hereby petitions the commission on breaches by CHANNELS TV on its programme ‘Politics Today’ last week.”

He accused the Labour Party (LP)Vice presidential candidate of making several comments that attacked the integrity of the 25th February 2023 presidential elections.