NBC Slams 5 Million Naira Fine on Channels Television

 The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a 5,000,000 naira fine on Channels Television for reportedly breaking the broadcast code in an interview with the Labour Party's vice-presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. The sanction was communicated to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station in a letter titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, and signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

In the letter, the commission stated that it had monitored a live interview of the Labour Party's vice-presidential candidate Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The Broadcasting Commission claimed that Dr Baba-Ahmed's statement regarding the swearing of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29 May, was capable of inciting public disorder. Dr Baba-Ahmed had stated during the interview that it would be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities. 

The Director-General of the broadcast commission warned that any further infraction by Channels Television would attract higher sanctions. The station has been advised by the Broadcasting Commission to pay the fine within two weeks of receiving the letter in order to prevent a graduation of penalty.