The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Friday announced the suspension of Globe Broadcasting and Communications Limited, owners of Wazobia FM, Kano, by withdrawing its operating license.
The suspension, according to the NBC, is with immediate effect.
The suspension follows allegations that two journalists from the radio station actually instigated the killing of some health workers, who were on official duty to immunise children against polio in the state, by broadcasting an episode of the programme, Sandar Girma.
The journalists accused a local government council of forcing the parents to accept immunisation against polio.
After the killing of nine of the health workers, one of the journalists, Yakubu Faggae, was arrested and charged to court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against the two, including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, intentional insult, and obstruction of a public servant.
The Presidency had threatened to sanction any radio station found culpable in the incident.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by NBC’s Head of Public Affairs, Awwalu Salihu, the commission said it took the action as part of steps to reduce the tension generated by the incident.
It described the said programme as a breach of Section 3.9.1 of its code prohibiting the use of language to encourage crime or disorder in the society.
The statement quoted the section as stipulating that language or scene likely to encourage or incite crime, or lead to disorder, shall not be broadcast, stressing that the station mismanaged its broadcast right in that regard.
“The commission has, therefore, decided to suspend the licence of the station in accordance with sections 10 (d) and 14 of the Third Schedule of the National Broadcasting Act, CAP N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004, until further notice,” the statement added.
