News

Tinubu: Mixed Reactions As NBC Fines Arise TV

Published

3 years ago

November 14, 2022

Civil society organisations expressed mixed reactions as the National Broadcasting Commission fined Arise TV for airing a reports about the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

NBC on Monday fined Arise TV N2m for breaching the broadcasting code.

Reacting, the Executive Director, Transition Monitoring Group, Auwal Rafsanjani, urged media houses to verify news before pushing them out.

He, however, noted that sanctioning Arise TV was not fair since the media house had apologised.

Rafsanjani said, “It is important that we try as much as possible to verify the information before it is sent out. However, the idea of trial by all means to sanction to media station over a report that did not emanate from it is not balanced and not also fair, especially when the media had openly come out to openly apologise.

“I think the NBC is just trying to show that it is working but that is not the only way to show that you’re actually working. If the media had denied or refuse to apologise, that is a different thing.

“The apology should have been taken in good faith. We don’t need to monetise or commercialise every aspect of our life.

On his part, the Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, expressed disappointment at the publication by Arise TV, which it said its owners and staff had enough experience than to make such mistake.

“Owners and staff of Arise TV are supposed to be thorough-bred journalists. And the rule in journalism is that ‘when you’re in doubt, leave out.’ It is not just one way that you can crosscheck a material before you use it as your content.

“As a matter of fact, they should have their own personnel in places where these news are breaking. There was no point in them rushing to the press with news that they knew could be libelous and scandalous because of the experience they had garnered over the years.

“Yes, they have made that mistake. It is good enough that they have been so humble to apologise, but then, if the rules of the NBC says that anybody that broadcast fake news should be sanctioned, then they should be sanctioned, at least, it would deter others who want to rush to the press.

“Everybody that had done that whether or not with the intention of embarrassing the subject of the issue, if they had violated the rule of ethics, they should be made to face the law,” Adeniran told The PUNCH.

Arise TV had apologised on Sunday after reporting that the Independent National Electoral Commission was investigating Tinubu over alleged criminal forfeiture of money on offenses bordering on narcotics and illicit drugs.

The sanction, however, came after the APC Presidential Campaign Council had petitioned the NBC on Monday, demanding sanctions against Arise TV and Channels Television for airing the report.

The APC’s demand was made in a petition signed by the special adviser on Media, Communications and Public Affairs of the PCC, Dele Alake, and addressed to the Director-General of the NBC, Balarabe Ilelah.

He said, “The case in question, which did not indict our candidate, has since been overtaken by events after interrogation and correspondences between the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, in 2003 and the United States government.

“The US Justice Department in a letter dated February 4, 2003, issued by the Lagos Consulate of the United States Embassy cleared our candidate. The letter was signed by Michael Bonner, the Consulate’s legal attaché.

“The Campaign Council was therefore surprised that certain media houses, such as ARISE News and Channels TV among others, went ahead to transmit and broadcast issues purportedly indicting our candidate in violation of section 3,3 I of the Code which says that ‘The Broadcaster shall ensure that any information given in a programme in whatever form is accurate.

“We believe that the operators of the stations, by their professional standing, should have access to research platforms to verify information before dishing it to the public,” the petition partly read.

Alake further accused both stations of using the already cleared document in their interviews of Festus Keyamo and spokesman for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, respectively.

The petition stated that both stations went further to broadcast a fake letter in circulation, purportedly issued by INEC, stating that the electoral body was investigating Tinubu.

“Notwithstanding the broadcast of the falsehood peddled by opposition elements, Arise TV and Channels TV went ahead to transmit and circulate a fake letter insinuating that INEC had initiated an investigation of the APC presidential candidate premised on the fake letter in circulation.

“Section 5.1.2 states that the broadcaster shall present news as factual and in correct and fair manner without distortion, exaggerations or misrepresentation while Section 5.1.3 further states that ‘fake news is prohibited.’

“The fake INEC letter has been proven to be fake and this breach is tantamount to disinformation.

“Arise TV has admitted guilt to this in a broadcast few days ago. We make bold to say that in 2014 the AIT transmitted a TV documentary “The Lion of Bourdillon” to which the NBC sanctioned it and it apologised to the victim.

“However, only last week, a chieftain of the PDP, Chief Bode George, in an interview on Arise TV, referred to materials from the documentary to vilify our presidential candidate in breach of the code and the apology granted the victim.

“These breaches attract a sanction of Class B and we implore the NBC to invoke the aforementioned sections to penalise Arise TV and Channels TV for breach of the broadcast code. Section 5.3.3 of the code states that, “The Broadcaster shall (b) in using political materials for news and current affairs programmes, avoid hate speech, inflammatory, derogatory and divisive remarks or allusions,” he said.

News

Former Delta North senator Peter Nwaoboshi Dies

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

Peter Nwaoboshi, the former senator representing Delta north, is dead.

Details of the circumstances surrounding his death were unclear at the time of this report, but according to reports, the former senator died in Abuja on Friday, aged 68.

In a statement, Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, expressed “profound grief” over the demise of the former lawmaker.

The governor described his demise as a monumental loss to the state, the Anioma nation, and Nigeria.

In a condolence message signed by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary (CPS), Oborevwori hailed the late Nwaoboshi as a dedicated son of Delta and a bold champion of Anioma interests, whose legacy in nation-building will endure.

The governor said the late senator’s distinguished tenure in the national assembly, particularly as chairman of the senate committee on Niger Delta affairs.

“Nwaoboshi lived a life of service to his people, his party, and the country, bequeathing a heritage of bravery, loyalty, and commitment to public duty,” Oborevwori said.

“On behalf of the Delta State government and people, I mourn my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi.

“I extend deepest condolences to his family, the Anioma people, members of the All Progressives Congress, and everyone touched by his life.

“May God grant his soul peaceful rest and comfort to all who grieve this irreplaceable loss.”

News

Grassroots To Global Podium: Edo Sports Commission Marks Enabulele’s First Year In Office

Published

19 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

The Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City came alive on Wednesday as the Edo State Sports Commission rolled out the drums to celebrate the first anniversary in office of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele. Management, staff, coaches and athletes gathered in an atmosphere charged with pride, reflection and optimism.

The colourful ceremony drew executives and members of various sports associations, officials of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), coaches, athletes and other key stakeholders in Edo sports.

In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. A. P. Amenze, praised Hon. Enabulele for what she described as focused and purposeful leadership. She said the past year had seen renewed confidence, discipline and energy return to the state’s sports ecosystem.

Adding excitement to the event were exhibition bouts and demonstrations by the Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo associations, staged in honour of the Executive Chairman.

Speaking for SWAN Edo State, Chairman Comrade Kehinde Osagiede commended Hon. Enabulele’s open-door leadership style and consistent support for sports development. He noted that the Commission had effectively driven Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Catch Them Young” policy through practical grassroots programmes that identify and groom young talents across the state.

In recognition of his contributions to sports development and media relations, Comrade Osagiede conferred the Patronship of SWAN Edo State on Hon. Enabulele and presented him with a special anniversary card.

Goodwill messages followed from Executive Directors of the Commission, including Hon. Frank Ilaboya (Edo North), Coach Baldwin Bazuaye, MON (Edo South), Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe (Edo Central), and Mrs. Sabrina Chikere, Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations. Representatives of coaches, athletes and sports associations also took turns to acknowledge the progress recorded under the current leadership.

In his stewardship address, Hon. Enabulele expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for the trust placed in him, noting that their backing and shared vision had driven the Commission’s achievements.

He highlighted Team Edo’s third-place finish at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, where the state recorded its best-ever outing with 79 medals—33 gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze—reinforcing Edo’s reputation as a national sports powerhouse.

The Chairman also pointed to the impact of inclusive and grassroots sports programmes, citing Favour Ojeabu, a visually impaired para-cyclist who won three gold medals to emerge Africa’s champion at the African Track Para-Cycling Championship in Egypt.

Other milestones listed included outstanding performances by Edo para powerlifters on the international stage, historic achievements in cricket, weightlifting, cycling, judo and deaf athletics, as well as structural reforms such as the repositioning of Bendel Insurance FC and deeper investment in grassroots sports development.

Cultural performances added colour and tradition to the celebration, as stakeholders closed the event united in their assessment of the past year as a truly transformative period for sports development in Edo State.

News

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro has charged media practitioners particularly members of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum to promote ethical journalism through their reportage.

He gave the charge in Warri on Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF).

Represented by Princewill Binebai, spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Otuaro while stating that the Niger Delta stories have been told in such a way that is quite different from what is obtainable in the real sense, said this, IPF must do everything possible to correct.

The administrator added: “I am happy that Ijaw journalists have boldly come out together to champion the Ijaw struggle in a very dynamic perspective”.

“The Ijaw story was misrepresented over the years, but IPF’s emergence had corrected this error and the story is gradually changing for better.”

Otuaro, however, challenged Ijaw media practitioners to be objective, truthful, accurate and fearless in their reportage to correct many years anomalies of the Ijaw struggle.

He admonished members of IPF to see themselves as brothers and love one another in the discharge of their activities to achieve a common goal.