The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has suspended Channels Television with a fine of N5 million for breaching the broadcast code.
The action of NBC followed the interview granted Spokesman of the Indegineous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Emma Powerful on its politics programme Sunday Politics.
The Acting Director-General of the Commission, NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, in a letter signed by himself, and addressed the Managing Director of Channels Television, the Commission referred to Channels 7 pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV station of allowing a leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without caution or reprimand by the station contrary to the broadcast code.
It also accused the station of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false and misleading statements about the Nigerian army, despite being proscribed by a court of law.
In the interview, the IPOB spokesman spoke on how its former Eastern Commander was killed by the security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the umbrella body of Nigerian editors in both print, electronic and digital media, has condemned the action of NBC.
A statement signed by its president, Mustapha Isah and the se Mary Atolagbe,
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The Nigerian Guild of Editors condemns in strong terms the threat issued to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over an interview with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful.
” Powerful had featured on Channels programme “Politics Today” on Sunday April 25, 2021 , where he allegedly made inciting statements.
“The NBC in the letter ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.
“The Guild will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
” Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear .
“The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.
” The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.
“The NBC should jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.
“Democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded.”
