The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned Channels Television for violating broadcasting code.
A N5million fine was placed on Channels TV for violating the broadcasting code in an interview programme with Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
The sanction is contained in a letter signed by the Director General of the NBC, Dr Balarebe Ilela and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station.
According to the letter, Dr Baba-Ahmed had during the interview on Channels TV program, Politics Today, said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected President on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.
The NBC said the broadcast was capable of inciting violence and as such fall short of some sections of the NBC code.
It noted that the NBC code stipulated ”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 Director General of NBC maintained that despite series of engagements with Channels TV, the broadcast station had failed to adhere to code.
He s that Channels TV will have to pay N5m as fine for the infraction on the first instance as further infractions will attract greater punishment.
The letter urged the TV station to pay the fine within two weeks.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare