NBC Summons Channel TV Presenters Over Anti-Buhari Interviews

*As Sowore, Others Storm NBC Over Channels TV Query

The National Broadcasting Commission has summoned Channels
Television presenters, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu, The
PUNCH report.

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 President
Muhammadu Buhari by two guests on the programme this week.

Competent sources confirmed to our correspondents that 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 already in Abuja,” the sources familiar with the
issue told our correspondents.

The NBC, it was gathered, is not comfortable with an interview
granted the private television station by the Benue State Governor,
Samuel Ortom, who said he was disappointed with the way the
Presidency is handling the nation’s security challenges.

It was also gathered that the commission is not comfortable with
an interview granted by a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi,
who alleged that current members of the Buhari cabinet are Boko
Haram sponsors.

Recall that the NBC queried Channels Television over the
“inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by Ortom on the
programme on Tuesday.

NBC made this known in a letter to the television station
titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’.

The regulator’s letter was dated August 24, 2021, and signed by
its Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.

NBC said, “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.

Meanwhile, the publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore and
some activists have stormed the headquarters of National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Abuja to register displeasure over
the query issued to Channels Television.

In the live update monitored Sowore who adorned a black top with
“Justice” written boldly on it with other activists, stood at the
entrance of the commission’s office.

Some staff of the commission seen leaving the premises of the
agency queried the presence of Sowore and others at the
entrance.

They also cautioned them to stop recording, stating it was
prohibited.

But Sowore responded: “We are here because of channels TV, we
are on solidarity with them”.

Some other staff of the Commission were seeing hurriedly leaving
the premises.

An official of the commission was also seen addressing Sowore
and others.

*As Sowore, Others Storm NBC Over Channels TV Query

The National Broadcasting Commission has summoned Channels
Television presenters, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu, The
PUNCH report.

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 President
Muhammadu Buhari by two guests on the programme this week.

Competent sources confirmed to our correspondents that 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 already in Abuja,” the sources familiar with the
issue told our correspondents.

The NBC, it was gathered, is not comfortable with an interview
granted the private television station by the Benue State Governor,
Samuel Ortom, who said he was disappointed with the way the
Presidency is handling the nation’s security challenges.

It was also gathered that the commission is not comfortable with
an interview granted by a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi,
who alleged that current members of the Buhari cabinet are Boko
Haram sponsors.

Recall that the NBC queried Channels Television over the
“inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by Ortom on the
programme on Tuesday.

NBC made this known in a letter to the television station
titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’.

The regulator’s letter was dated August 24, 2021, and signed by
its Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.

NBC said, “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.

Meanwhile, the publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore and
some activists have stormed the headquarters of National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Abuja to register displeasure over
the query issued to Channels Television.

In the live update monitored Sowore who adorned a black top with
“Justice” written boldly on it with other activists, stood at the
entrance of the commission’s office.

Some staff of the commission seen leaving the premises of the
agency queried the presence of Sowore and others at the
entrance.

They also cautioned them to stop recording, stating it was
prohibited.

But Sowore responded: “We are here because of channels TV, we
are on solidarity with them”.

Some other staff of the Commission were seeing hurriedly leaving
the premises.

An official of the commission was also seen addressing Sowore
and others.