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

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

8 hours 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.

News

Police Confirm Edo Tanker Explosion, say No Casualty

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed tanker explosions that rocked Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Police Publice Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident via the phone, said the explosion occurred at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

Ikoedem said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

She explained that spilled fuel seeped into underground tunnels, which later ignited and caused three explosions in different parts of the Auchi community.

According to her, officers from the Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters and the Area Command were mobilised to the affected areas and successfully cordoned them off to prevent loss of lives.

She added: “No casualty was recorded. Our men on ground were able to cordoned the affected areas.”

It was gathered that three separate explosions rocked the town simultaneously in different parts, which led to properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

A resident who does not want his name in print said via the telephone that the blasts occurred along Igbei Road, Igbo Shade, and along the Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.

The resident, who alleged the explosions appeared to have been coordinated, called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Calls put across to Mr. Monday Edogiawere, Chairman, Red Cross, Edo State, were not picked.

News

IPF Hosts Media Conference, Seeks Protection For N’Delta Environment

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) on Wednesday , December 17, 2025 held its annual media conference in Warri, Delta State, where the media practitioners sought protection of the Niger Delta’s natural resources and environment for future generations.

In his welcome address at the conference themed: ‘Safeguarding the Niger Delta Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ IPF President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, while emphasising the importance of protecting the Niger Delta’ environment and resources, highlighted the devastating impact of oil theft, environmental pollution, exploitation by oil companies, federal government and deforestation on the region.

He called on oil exploration companies to prioritize the well-being of the people and the environment.

Comrade Austin also provided a brief history of the IPF, which was formed in October 2023 to promote the Ijaw struggle and its identity.

He noted that the IPF has made significant strides in telling the Ijaw story and advocating for the rights of the Ijaw nation.

Ozobo, who noted that the conference was aimed at addressing the challenges facing the Niger Delta region and find solutions to safeguard its natural resources for future generations, said: “We must stop oil theft, environmental pollution which has destroyed fishing and farming activities or occupation in our region. We must equally stop deforestation and waste of other forest and aquatic resources. Our resources are our future. Our environment is our wealth. Pollution does not just affect our environment but it shortens our life span. Stealing our crude or sabotaging it, is as well as stealing our common wealth, invariably creating poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities in our region. This message largely affects our oil exploration companies. The IOC and indigenous oil companies management should stop exploitation and deliberate environmental pollution if our well-being should be prioritized”.

“We have proactively told the Ijaw story in all dimensions, we have propagated and seamlessly advocated for the struggle of the Ijaw nation. We have actively defended the Ijaw nation from willful blackmails, people who are hellbent to hand twist, incite government, its military against Ijaw nation to jeopardise Ijaw identity. This is not to entertain you but well-meaning leaders, stakeholders and youths could attest to it”.

“There is no gainsaying that IPF has balanced the equilibrium, the Ijaw nation is now more significant in the media industry than ever, there is now a checks and balances between those who bastardise our collective image or identity in the name of telling our story. We have corrected many such narratives and we will continue to put a stop to it. I can assure you that the rate at which the foreign papers battered our identity have reduced to the barest minimum since we took charge and made Ijaw significant in the media industry”

“The Yoruba has their media houses, Hausa has its own, Igbo has, Itsekiri has, Urhobo has, so the commitments and efforts made by brilliant Ijaw sons and daughters to strengthen Ijaw presence in the media industry should be encouraged by all well-meaning Ijaw leaders and critical stakeholders. Our mission and visions are to defend, advocate, propagate Ijaw/Niger Delta self-determination struggle and build dependable media houses for the Ijaw nation in no distance time. So that when all papers and broadcasting stations will show patriotism to their origins, political Godfathers and hand twisted governments in the unforeseen dark days, Ijaw nation will not be left in the rain and sun to be battered”.

The conference was attended by prominent guests, including High Chief Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and RT. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Lawuru Promise, Amb. Godknows Igali, Pandef National leader, Chief Oyakemeagbegha Izinebi, INC publicity Secretary, Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba former commissioner of oil and gas, Delta State, Chief Udens Eradiri, IYC spokesman Princewill Binebai, Ijaw women Rights’ Protection Forum IWRPF, Ijaw women in politics, for peace and Culture, Ayakoromo ladies, President Amnesty students leadership and others.