SERAP to sue FG, NBC over N5m fine on Channels TV

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has said it would sue the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the N5 million fine imposed   on Channels Television.

SERAP disclosed this via its official Twitter handle on Saturday, April 1.

“We’re 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.

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.