The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a N2million fine on Arise TV News for reporting a fake news on its channel broadcast on Saturday.
It is instructive to note that the Arise News Channel, on Sunday, apologized to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over a fake report that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was investigating a case of criminal forfeiture against him.
But in his reaction against the reportage, the Director General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, accused Arise TV of breaching the NBC code.
In its letter made available on Monday, the NBC stated that the report is the most unfortunate breach of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and gross display of unprofessionalism and insensitivity by the organization.
The letter reads in part , “The National Broadcasting Commission, on Saturday 12 November, 2022 monitored the broadcast of a Press Release purportedly signed by Festus Okoye Esq, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“The said Press Release alleged that INEC is investigating the use of forfeiture by a US Court against the Presidential Candidate of the APC, with a view to prosecution.
“The Press Release in reference has been tagged FAKE by INEC and the Organisation has also issued a counter Press Release to refute the story.
“This is a most unfortunate breach of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and gross display of unprofessionalism and insensitivity by your organization at this time of electioneering.
“It would be recalled that the National Broadcasting Commission, between 19 and 26 of September 2022 went round the country to sensitize broadcasters and remind them on 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 from the Social Media. (User Generated Content, UCG) Ref: Nigeria Broadcasting Code 5.6.5.
“News is the most potent of all broadcast and therefore the editorial responsibility of the broadcasters is sacrosanct. Every news items must be verified.
“ And Section 5.0.1 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code provides that “News shall be presented as a truthful and accurate account of an event or phenomenon.“News requires the highest level of responsibility by practitioners in adhering to the most pristine of their professional ethics. This includes truthfulness, accuracy, fairness, objectivity, impartiality.
“Section 5.1.3 of the code says ‘FAKE NEWS IS PROHIBITED.
“Although, your station has tendered apology to the presidential candidate of the APC after the professional glitch, the Commission expects broadcasters to ensure at most professionalism as anything contrary may have grave consequences.
“Consequently, pursuant to Section 5.1.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Arise TV is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N2million within two weeks of receipt of this letter or sanction shall be graduated.”
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