Members of the International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have expressed concern over the recent N5 million fine on Channels TV, describing it as arbitrariness taken too far.Information Guide Nigeria

Recall that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels TV.

According to THE GUARDIAN, this was based on the claim that Channels TV violated the Nigeria Broadcasting Code because of the interview Seun Okinbaloye had with Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed the said interview expressed strong opposition to the swearing-in of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 2023, asserting that it would be tantamount to the end of democracy.JAMB Result

However, the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, and his MRA counterpart, Edetaen Ojo, argued that although NBC did not disclose the material fact in its announcement of the sanction, it “apparently acted on a widely publicized petition.”

Ojo stated that the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Bayo Onanuga, demanded that Channels TV be punished.

Other Top Stories: 

• Every resident to pay N1,000 levy annually – Ondo Govt
• Attack on Igbo: Bring your evidence against MC Oluomo – Police PRO
• Man strangles 22-year-old pregnant girlfriend
• Gunmen abduct 10 students in Kaduna secondary school

They added that “Against the well-established principle of natural justice, which, among others, makes fair hearing sacrosanct, NBC did not avail Channels TV the opportunity of putting forward its defense against Onanuga’s allegations before slamming the hefty fine.”JAMB Portal

THE GUARDIAN reports that the group said, “In failing to do so, NBC acted unfairly and unjustly, as it based its heavy-handed decision on the claims of one side only. NBC has, in this instance, again, exercised quasi-judicial powers injudiciously, by constituting itself to the prosecutor and the judge over a case brought before it by a third party. In previous instances, it has also additionally been the accuser.”

It emphasized that even if the claims from NBC were true, it acted based on its observation, especially since that made it the accuser, the prosecutor, and the judge.NYSC Portal

Members of the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) urged NBC to desist from walking such a path, which undermines its credibility and independence as well as weakens the broadcast sector as a result.

The group added: “We call on the commission to immediately reverse the hastily imposed fine and give Channels TV the deserved opportunity to defend itself.”

Check: JAMB Result

Check and Confirm: How much is Dollar to Naira