Following an invitation by the National Broadcasting Commission has summoned Channels Television presenters, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu.
The PUNCH reports that Usoh, Okikiolu and two other anchors of the TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme were invited to the Abuja office of the regulator on Thursday over some comments made against the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) by two guests on the programme this week.
The presenters who left Lagos this morning to honour the invitation are already in Abuja.
Another source said the presenters are at the NBC Office with their lawyer.
“The presenters are already in Abuja,” e said.
In recent times, the commission has also raised an eyebrow over an interview granted by a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, who alleged that current members of the Buhari cabinet are Boko Haram sponsors.
WuzupNigeria has earlier reported that the NBC was uncomfortable with the interview where the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, was heard saying that he was disappointed with the way the Presidency is handling the nation’s security challenges.
Following his scathing remarks, the NBC queried Channels Television over the “inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by Ortom on the programme on Tuesday.
The NBC made this known in a letter issued to the television station by Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah, titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’
“The programme which had as guest the Executive Governor of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom, was observed to contain inciting, divisive and unfair comments which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors.”
It said the actions allegedly negated Sections 1.10.4, 3.1.1, 3.3.1(b), 3.3.1(e), 3.11.1(a), and 3.12.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response should reach the Commission within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter,” the NBC said.
Recall that the NBC, under Mohammed, had in May slammed a fine of N5 million each on Channels TV and Inspiration FM Lagos for alleged infractions of its broadcasting code.
The heavy hammer came after Channels TV had featured the spokesperson for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Emma Powerful, on its ‘Politics Today’ programme.
