BON, NGE, and MRA ask the FG to reverse a N5 million fine against MultiChoice, Trust TV, and others

By Adeleye Kunle

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have urged the federal government to reverse the N5 million fines imposed on MultiChoice, Trust TV, TSTV, and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for airing a terrorism documentary.
The organizations also criticized the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to fine the media companies.

The NBC fined MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, the owners of DStv, NTA-Startimes Limited, and TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV) N5 million each for airing a BBC Africa Eye documentary that “glorified the activities of Bandits and undermined National Security in Nigeria.”
Before the fines were imposed, Mr Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, stated that the federal government would sanction Trust TV and the BBC for “terrorism glorification” in their documentaries.

Mohammed stated that the federal government was aware of the “unprofessional” documentary in which bandit warlords and terror gangs were granted interviews, thereby promoting “terror” in the country.

However, in a letter dated August 4 and addressed to the DG of NBC, Balarabe Ilela, the Executive Secretary of BON, Yemisi Bamgbose, described the imposition of the fine as arbitrary and a violation of the NBC codes.

“BON has observed that NBC has violated its own established procedures for handling complaints from individuals, groups of individuals, or institutions against Broadcaster in recent years” (s). Section 14.3.1 states, “Upon receipt of the complaint(s), the Commission shall: (a) inform and require the Broadcaster to provide, within a specified period determined by the Commission, a written response and a recording of the relevant materials.” (b) request copies of the complainant’s relevant correspondence.

“In the current case, the NBC did not provide any written evidence from any complainant(s), nor did it issue any query to the alleged violators of NBC codes.”

“We note that failure to follow the established procedure appears to imply that NBC acted arbitrarily and in violation of its regulation, as provided in section 14.3.1 cited earlier.” Section 14.3.2 made it clear that failure by the Broadcaster to react, supply materials, or respond to inquiries within a specified time limit shall be deemed as acceptance of the complaints.

“The sanctioned broadcasters were summoned to NBC Headquarters on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022, only to be handed letters of penalty without due process.”

“Furthermore, Section 14.2(1)(2) of the Code establishes a time limit for receiving complaints, stating that “any person, group of persons, or institution aggressive may file a complaint with the commission within 14 days of the occurrence of the act or omission.” The commission will not consider a complaint received after the 14-day period specified in 14.2.1.” The alleged offensive documentary was broadcast on Trust Television Network in March 2022.

“The alleged complaint was not brought to Trust Television Network until a letter of imposition of fines was delivered to Trust Television Network on Wednesday 3rd August 2022, four months after the broadcast of the alleged offensive TV documentary produced by the station on March 5, 2022.” NBC has violated yet another set of NBC rules.”

As a result, BON instructed the NBC to withdraw the fines imposed on the organizations for a lack of fair hearing and a violation of the NBC codes as specified in Sections 14.2. (1) (2).

Mustapha Isah, President of the NGE, has also called for the fine to be withdrawn immediately.
Instead of sanctioning the media for carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, Isah believes the government should view them as partners in progress in the fight against terrorism.

“I watched the Trust TV documentary several times and I didn’t see where it glorified or glamourized banditry,” he said. A report like this can help the government fight terrorism.”
He also emphasized the Guild’s resolve to continue to defend and promote the cause of democracy and press freedom in the country under any circumstances.

The MRA, for its part, urged NBC to reverse its decision to penalize media outlets for allegedly broadcasting documentaries about terrorists.
Mr Ayode Longe, the MRA’s programme director, described NBC’s action as unconstitutional and repressive in a statement.

If the measures are not reversed, the group has threatened to sue the commission.
According to CDD, you cannot gag the media.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has described NBC’s imposition of a fine on media organizations as an attempt by the federal government to silence the press.

CDD Director Idayat Hassan called the fine obnoxious, oppressive, and suppressive, and asked the commission to withdraw it immediately.
According to her, the fine is a heinous attempt to silence the media and violate citizens’ rights to free speech and information.

“As the partner who assisted Trust TV in producing the documentary, we unequivocally state that the documentary was created and broadcast in the public interest.” The film was based on years of field research, represented all affected communities, and proposed solutions to the conflict. “The caliber of people featured in the documentary and those who attended the screenings, which were followed by a panel discussion, only speaks to our genuine interest in finding solutions to the conflict,” the statement said.

“We are shocked to see how the National Broadcasting Commission violated its procedures by failing to provide affected media organizations with a fair hearing and acting without receiving any written complaints as required by law.”

“As a regulator, we expect the NBC to act independently and professionally, free of political influence.”