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Tinubu: Mixed Reactions As NBC Fines Arise TV

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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.

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READ ALSO: NBC Fines Arise TV Over Report On Tinubu

“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.

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“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.

READ ALSO: 2023: Tinubu, Atiku Meet In Abuja [VIDEO]

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.

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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.

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“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.

READ ALSO: Buhari To Turkish President: Nigerians Sad Over Terrorist Attack In Turkey

“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.

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“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.

 

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‘How Nigeria Can Achieve N10 Trillion Revenue From Knowledge Assets’

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Stakeholders, including government officials and experts, have outlined a bold vision for Nigeria’s economic future, aiming to achieve N10 trillion in revenue from knowledge assets.

At the end of a summit convened by Research for Impact, Knowledge-Economy, and Sustainable Development (RIKE-SD), and organized by the West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN) in Abuja on Thursday, discussions centred on the pivotal role of research, development, and innovation in driving economic growth and prosperity.

Abike Dabiri, Chairperson of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), emphasized the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s intellectual capital.

She said, “Without data, without research, without developments, we cannot grow. Mr. President himself has stressed the need for research, development, and innovation.

READ ALSO: FULL NAMES: Mamu, 14 Others, BDCs Indicted For Terrorism Financing

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“You need to grow, and you cannot grow without research and innovation. We have a wealth of talent, and what we aim to do with this group is to collaborate with the diaspora community to harness that talent and the enormous resources we possess as Nigerians.

“Our greatest asset is not even the oil, but the talent and resources we have at our disposal.”

Similarly, Prof. Elias Bogoro, former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), highlighted the centrality of research in a knowledge economy, pointing out Nigeria’s robust government support for fostering research and innovation.

He stated, “When we talk about a knowledge economy, research is at the core. Nigeria is no exception. The government recognizes this and demonstrates strong involvement, facilitation, and support through the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, as well as the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.”

READ ALSO: Economic Hardship: Oyebanji Unveils N12bn Economic Relief Programme

Former Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Jomo Osahor (retd), emphasized the importance of creativity and independence in research, stating, “Research and development are essential for the growth of every nation because it requires creativity and innovation. Relying solely on foreign ideas is not necessary.”

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Mustapha Popoola, Executive Director of RIKE-SD, emphasized the significance of institutionalizing research, development, and innovation across sectors.

He outlined plans to launch a coordination platform for Research, Development, and Innovation in Nigeria.

He explained, “Just like what happens in other countries when there are presidential pronouncements, it is not a matter of waiting to be asked to act.

“Mr. President, in his wisdom, has emphasized the need for us to institutionalize research, development, and innovation across the board.

“Therefore, our primary goal is to effectively utilize the development innovation toolkit to analyze the presidential priority areas, which amount to eight key focus areas.

“When we engage think tanks, they analyze the situation scientifically and socially, using various methods to determine the optimal solution.

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“So, when we discuss generating an additional N10 trillion in revenue for Nigeria through knowledge assets, research outcomes, innovation, and foreign direct investment facilitated by RDI platforms that we are collaboratively developing.”

The summit, supported by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), UK, aimed to strategize on leveraging Nigeria’s intellectual capital for economic growth.

 

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Police Hand Over Delta King, Ikolo To Military

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Wanted King of Ewu, Clement Ikolo, who turned himself in has been handed over to the military by the police.

The development has been confirmed by the Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe.

King Ikolo who was one of the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in connection with the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama community, turned himself in to the Delta State Police Command on Thursday.

READ ALSO: Soldiers’ Killing: Wanted Delta King Surrenders To Police

The monarch was said to have arrived at the state police command headquarters at exactly 6:41 pm, to report himself to Police Commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda.

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Before he turned himself in to the police, the monarch spoke to journalists, insisting on his innocence.

Earlier on Thursday, the Defence Headquarters declared eight persons, including Ikolo, wanted over their alleged roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel on a peace-keeping mission to Delta State.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki; a traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukeywe; Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

 

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Ex-NBA Pub Sec, Ogbankwa Assaults Edo NUJ Chair, Others Over Publication

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A former Publicity Secretary of the Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Douglas Ogbankwa, late Thursday at the Edo State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) assaulted journalists including the State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe and others over an online report of alleged case of stealing preferred against him by the state.

He was at the NUJ premises with plain cloth policemen to arrest a blogger, Friday Aghedo, who had published a story of his arraignment at the Criminal Court in Benin City over alleged attack on the matrimonial home of one Sandra Palmer-Kelvin for alleged issues with Ogbankwa’s client based in Denmark who is Sandra’s husband.

When he arrived at the premises of the NUJ with the policeman, journalists who witnessed what was happening informed the NUJ chairman who immediately met with the policemen and informed them that they should have announced their presence before the leadership of the union.

The chairman, however, assured the policemen that Aghedo would honour their invitation.

READ ALSO: Malabu Oil Scam: EFCC Loses Case As Court Discharges Ex-AGF Adoke, Others

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Infuriated by Alenkhe’s intervention on the planned arrest, Ogbankwa turned to the NUJ chairman where he roared “Alenkhe, even you, I will pick you up” and then threatened to deal with other journalists present including the Chief of Staff to Alenkhe, Simeon Osajie, the State Correspondent of Vanguard Newspaper, Ozioruva Aliu, Secretary of the Council, Andy Egbon, Treasurer of the Council, Solomon Obonzuya and several others.

Earlier, when his case was mentioned in the court, several lawyers including the Benin Branch chairman of the NBA, Nosa Edo-Osagie, Emmanuel Usoh and others pleaded with the judge to allow them intervene in the issue which they assured would be settled and report back in the next date where he was expected to take his plea.

In the charge sheet marked B/10/600/2024 between The State and Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large, they were accused of allegedly stealing a stabilizer belonging to Sandra Palmer-Kelvin.

He is facing charges including felony punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.

READ ALSO: Iran Sentences Police Officer To Death For Killing Protester

The charge also reads: “Ogbankwa and others now at large, sometimes in the month of January, 2023 at 2nd Ugbor road, GRA Benin within the Benin Judicial Division did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forcibly entry” which it said is punishable under Section 56 (1) of the criminal law of Edo State, 2022.

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“Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large sometimes in the month of January, 2023 at the 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State within the Benin Judicial Division , did forcefully enter the residential house of one Sandra Palmer-Kelvin damage door keys belonging to one Sandra palmer-Kelvin.

“Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large, sometimes in the month of January, 2023 at 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State within the Benin Judicial Division , did steal one stabilizer belonging to one Sandra Palmer Kelvin.”

Justice Ikponmwonba however adjourned the case for a report of settlement pleas not taken.

The prosecuting Counsel, Mr Orobosa Okunbor however did not oppose the defendant counsel application.

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