NBC Slams N5m Fine On Info FM For Providing Platform For EX CBN Dep Gov Mailafia To Say Boko Haram Commander Is A Northern Gov Amongst Other ‘’Unverified’’ Things

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has fined Nigeria Info the sum of N5m over the interview granted it by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailaifa.

Mailafia had during the radio interview on Monday, claimed that a governor from the north was a commander of Boko Haram and that insurgents would soon start urban killings and attacking southern parts of the country.

Reacting to the comment, the NBC in a statement on Thursday said the station had been fined for the unprofessional broadcast.

The statement read, “The National Broadcasting Commission has noted with grave concern, the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, in the handling of the Programme, “Morning Cross Fire”, aired on August 10, 2020, between 8.30am and 9.00am.

“The station provided its platform for the guest, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder.

“Dr. Mailafia Obadia’s comments on the “Southern Kaduna Crisis”, were devoid of facts and by broadcasting same to the public, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, is in violation of the following sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code:

“In line with the amendment of the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Nigeria Info 99.3FM Lagos, has been fined the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira), only.

“This is expected to serve as a deterrent to all other broadcast stations in Nigeria who are quick to provide platform for subversive rhetoric and the expositions of spurious and unverifiable claims, to desist from such.

“The Commission wishes to put it on record that it will not hesitate to suspend the Broadcast Licence of broadcast stations that continue to breach the Code.

“Stations are, by this statement, admonished to desist forthwith, from airing unwholesome content, or be ready to face appropriate sanctions.”

An24.net