The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Arise TV N2 million over a fake letter that claimed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was investigating its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, for drug dealing.
In a petition, Dele Alake, a special media adviser to the Tinubu/Shettima campaign, requested that the regulatory body punish news stations for airing the false article, which had already been corrected.
“We hereby request the National Broadcasting Commission to sanction the offending stations in the name of justice and the protection of the rights of our candidate as well as avoidance of future reoccurrence,” the petition read.
The NBC has now given Arise Television a N2 million fine at the APC’s request.
The commission said that Arise Television had broken numerous rules of the broadcasting code in a letter written by its director general, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah.
“The National Broadcasting Commission has imposed a penalty of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only) on Arise TV, being sanction for the violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The National Broadcasting Commission, between the 19th and 26th of September, 2022, went around the country to sensitize broadcasters and remind them of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Electoral Act as we count down to the 2023 general elections.
“The commission also underscored the need for broadcasters to double-check the veracity of any information, especially those gotten from social media (User Generated Content UGC), which is specifically affirmed by section 5.6.5 of the Nigeria Broadcasting code.
“Likewise, we draw attention to Section 5.0.1 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which provides that news shall be presented as a truthful and accurate account of an event or phenomenon,” the letter read.
The NBC further declared that it would not be reluctant to penalize broadcasters who disobey its rules.
“Nevertheless, the commission uses this opportunity to warn all broadcasters to adhere to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Regulations and other Extant Laws, as it will not hesitate to sanction any broadcaster that contravenes the above requirements,” it added.
Source: peoples gazette
