…as SERAP threatens suit against regulator if fine not rescinded
The National Broadcasting Commission, which regulates the broadcast industry in the country, has slammed fines on Channels TV, Arise Television and Africa Independent Television for what it called “unprofessional coverage” of the #EndSARS protests.
The acting Director-General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, announced this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The fines range between N2million and N3million.
Already, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a nongovernmental organization, has warned it would sue the regulator unless it rescinds the fines within 48 hours.
Last week, NBC warned all television and radio stations against reporting the #EndSARS protests in a manner that could embarrass the government or private individuals or cause disaffection, incite to panic, or rift in the society.
“We condemn the illegal fines of N9m reportedly imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels TV, AIT, and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.
“We’ll sue the NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours,” SERAP warned in a tweet on Monday.
The media houses offered real-time coverage of the #EndSARS protests that swept across Nigeria as youths rose against the brutality of the police unit that murdered, tortured, and exploited Nigerians.
The stations were offering live coverage of the protests on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos when men in military uniform opened fire on the unarmed protesters, killing some and wounding others.
The Nigerian Army has denied the involvement of its men in the shooting. The government has said it would investigate the incident to establish the claims.
