Seun Okinbaloye, the Channels Television presenter whose programme was at the centre of the N5 million fine recently imposed on the television station by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has spoken up about the fine.
Recall that the NBC slammed the N5m fine on Channels TV for breaking the broadcasting code in an interview programme with Labour Party vice presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The fine was revealed in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27.
The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by the commission’s Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.
It read in part: “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.
“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Ilelah said in the letter.
The NBC DG noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
Reacting, Okinbaloye declared that the “media will not be silenced as Nigeria belongs to everyone”.
He said that events in the past days have created an environment of fear and uncertainty and threatened the freedom of the press.
Despite these challenges, he said, “we as journalists and broadcasters have remained committed to our duty to inform, educate and entertain our audience”.
Watch video:
Freedom of the press is a precious privilege that no country can forego.—-Mahatma Gandhi pic.twitter.com/88W4cIvYot
— SeunOkin Channels tv (@seunokin) April 3, 2023