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NBC Hands Nigerian Info N5m Fine Over Mailaifa Statement
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation has fined radio station Nigerian Info a sum of N5 million for a comment made by an ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailaifa, on one its programmes.
The NBC announced the fine in a statement released today titled, “The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Fines Nigeria Info 99.3 For Unprofessional Broadcast.”
Mailaifa had been on the station’s Morning Crossfire show on Monday, where he discussed the recent violence in Southern Kaduna, which has seen scores of people die at the hands of bandits.
During the programme, Mailaifa had alleged that the leader of dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram, was a governor in the Northern region of Nigeria.
“Some of us also have our intelligence networks. I have met with some of the bandits; we have met with some of their high commanders – one or two who have repented – they have sat down with us not once, not twice.
“They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Boko Haram and the bandits are one and the same. They have a sophisticated network. During this lockdown their planes were moving up and down as if there was no lockdown.
“They were moving ammunition, moving money, and distributing them across different parts of the country,” the former CBN boss had said while on the programme.
The NBC, in its reaction on Thursday, condemned the station for giving Dr. Mailafia the platform “to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder.”
The regulator said Mailafia’s statements were in direct contravention of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code of ethics. As punishment, Nigeria Info would be required to pay five million naira in fines to the NBC.
According to the body, this would serve as a warning to broadcast houses not to give airtime to individuals who spread “subversive rhetoric” and unsubstantiated claims.
“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,” The NBC said.
