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NBC Sanctions ITV for
“unprofessional political coverage”
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria’s broadcast sector
regulator sanctioned a private television station, the Independent
Television (ITV) based in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, South-south
Nigeria for alleged “unprofessional political coverage”.
The NBC said the station fell short of professional conduct in its
coverage of the December 15, 2007 Council elections in Edo State.
The Commission’s action followed a complaint made by the Edo State
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Omoruyi Omonuwa (SAN),
who alleged that ITV was biased against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in its coverage of the elections.
The station was subsequently fined N100, 000 for what the NBC referred
to as “unprofessional political coverage”, and also ordered to return
the sum of N50, 000 it collected from the state government to air a news
item, an action the Commission said contravened sub-section 5.2.12 of
the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
The sanctions were contain in a letter to the Attorney-General and sign
by Chris Okoyomoh on behalf of the Director General of the National
Broadcasting Commission.
The Commission said it took the decision after reviewing the compliant
by the government.
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