SERAP to sue FGN, NBC over N5 million fine imposed on Channels TV
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has announced that it will sue the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the N5 million fine imposed on media organization, Channels Television.
SERAP disclosed this via its official Twitter handle on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
“We are suing the Buhari administration and NBC over the arbitrary and unlawful fine of N5 million imposed on Channels TV for a recent interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)”, the statement read.
READ ALSO: NBC fines Channels TV N5 million for inciting broadcast with Labour Party VP candidate
In a letter addressed to Channels TV and dated March 27, the NBC stated that there had been a breach of the broadcasting code during an interview the television station had with Baba-Ahmed on Wednesday, March 22.
The Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah, who signed the letter, said the interview was capable of inciting public disorder.
Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had petitioned the Commission to sanction Channels TV over the controversial interview with Baba-Ahmed.
During the interview, Baba-Ahmed had described the emergence of the president-elect as ‘unconstitutional,’ adding that swearing him in would amount to a violation of the constitution.
