NBC Slams N5m Fine on Channels TV, Inspiration FM

Despite widespread  criticism that trailed its earlier reprimand of  Channels TV for  granting leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has finally asked Channels Television to pay a fine of N5 million for breaching the broadcast code. Also fined N5million alongside Channels Television is  Inspiration FM Lagos.

Recall that the Commission had last week queried  Channels Television after Emma Powerful, a leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was interviewed on its live programme, ‘‘Politics Today’’, on Monday, April 26th. Following the news of its action, the NBC faced wide condemnation by many Nigerians who viewed the alleged suspension of Channels TV by the NBC as an attack on media freedom and independence. In the letter addressed to Channels TV Managing Director on Monday, the NBC accused the station of promoting content liable to incite hatred and sectionalism by tolerating the IPOB spokesman’s “derogatory, false and misleading statements” which is in violation of Sections 3.11.1(b) and 5.4.3 of broadcasting Act. But on Tuesday, April 27th, the NBC denied suspending the TV station, claiming that it only warned it  and did not suspend the station’s operations over the broadcast of an interview with a leader of an outlawed group, IPOB.