National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Nigeria Info radio station N5million over Dr Obadiah Mailafia’s interview where the former CBN deputy governor alleged that a Northern Governor is a Boko Haram leader.
The station has now become the first broadcast platform to be sanction under the new controversial NBC code that was unveiled last Tuesday.
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The sanction was contained in a statement signed by the NBC management on Thursday titled, ‘The National Broadcasting Commission Fines Nigeria Info 99.3 For Unprofessional Broadcast’.
It would be recalled that Mailaifa was interviewed on Monday during one of the station’s programmes, Morning CrossFire.
He had talked about the killings in Southern Kaduna, one of the parts of the North-West region worst hit by banditry.
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He stated;
Some of us also have our intelligence networks. I have met with some of the bandits; we have met with some of their high commanders – one or two who have repented – they have sat down with us not once, not twice.
They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Boko Haram and the bandits are one and the same. They have a sophisticated network. During this lockdown their planes were moving up and down as if there was no lockdown.
Mailafia was later invited by the Department of State Services in Jos on Wednesday and was grilled for six hours.
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NBC in its reaction to the development stated;
The National Broadcasting Commission has noted with grave concern, the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, in the handling of the Programme, “Morning Cross Fire”, aired on August 10, 2020, between 8.30am and 9.00am.
The station provided its platform for the guest, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder.
Dr. Mailafia Obadia’s comments on the “Southern Kaduna Crisis”, were devoid of facts and by broadcasting same to the public, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, is in violation of sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
Awon agbaiya gbogbo, God is more powerful than you. Your agenda will not stand.