{"id":44131,"date":"2020-10-26T16:53:26","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T15:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalwire.com.ng\/?p=44131"},"modified":"2020-10-26T16:53:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T15:53:26","slug":"withdraw-fines-on-channels-tv-arise-ait-or-be-sued-serap-tells-nbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalwire.com.ng\/sub\/withdraw-fines-on-channels-tv-arise-ait-or-be-sued-serap-tells-nbc\/","title":{"rendered":"Withdraw Fines On Channels TV, Arise, AIT Or Be Sued, SERAP Tells NBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has condemned the \u201cunconstitutional and illegal\u201d fines of N3 million each imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels Television, Arise Television, and Africa Independent Television over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.<\/p>\n

The acting Director-General of NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, had announced at a press conference in Abuja on that the agency has fined Channels Television, Arise Television, and Africa Independent Television for what it termed \u201cunprofessional coverage\u201d of the #EndSARS protests.<\/p>\n

SERAP made its reaction known in a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, titled \u2018SERAP asks NBC to withdraw \u2018illegal fines on Channels TV, AIT, Arise TV or face legal action\u2019.<\/p>\n

The statement read, \u201cThis action by NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities\u2019 push to silence independent media and voices. NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom. We will sue NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a new low in Nigeria\u2019s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The fines are detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the NBC must immediately withdraw the decision.\u201d<\/p>

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Advertisement<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

The statement, read in part: \u201cMedia freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover peaceful protests, and critical views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe media has a vital role to play as \u2018public watchdog\u2019 in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. The NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country\u2019s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has condemned the \u201cunconstitutional and illegal\u201d fines of N3 million each imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels Television, Arise Television, and Africa Independent Television over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":41872,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[5706,7551,466,7654,7684],"coauthors":[2391],"class_list":["post-44131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news","tag-ait","tag-arise-television","tag-channels-television","tag-endsars-protests","tag-socio-economic-rights-and-accountability-project"],"yoast_head":"\nWithdraw Fines On Channels TV, Arise, AIT Or Be Sued, SERAP Tells NBC - 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