Again!! AIT, Raypower In Fresh Trouble As NBC Threatens To Shut Stations Over Unfavorable Reports

The regulatory body in broadcasting services, known as National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has threatened to move against African Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM over some unfavorable reports aired by the stations.

The commission’s director of broadcast monitoring, Armstrong Idachaba, has asked AIT and RayPower to state why they should not be sanctioned over what the commission considered to be offensive, unfair and unprofessional raised in three separate letters.

According to the letter, “The continued use of your licence (given in trust to you on behalf of the entire Nigerian people), to embark on attacks and vilification of the regulator shall attract appropriate sanctions going forward.

“Monitoring reports on AIT and Ray Power FM indicate that a news commentary replete with unfair allegations against the judiciary was aired from Monday, 20th May, 2019,”

“This commentary was aired on the two stations during the week. The broadcast is a contravention of the provisions of the Code and extant laws regarding discussion of cases pending in the law courts which could be termed as contempt of court.

“According to the provisions of Section 1.15.1 of The Nigerian Broadcasting Code, the language used was -offensive and unfair on the judiciary. The broadcast is viewed as offensive, unfair and unprofessional.”

NBC wondered the motive behind the documentary titled: “Nigeria Judiciary on Trial: Lessons from Kenya”. It said INEC was unfairly accused of refusing to make its server public because it doctored the result of the 2019 Presidential elections in favor of the ruling party.

In a letter dated 27 May, 2019, NBC gave the stations until May 31 to respond to its queries or risk disciplinary actions.

The regulatory body cited many instances in another letter dated May 27, on the content used on social media on Kakaaki, a breakfast show on AIT where “inciting words” were used and how social media users fanned the embers of discord.

It reads: “Your station is by this letter advised to be cautious when discussing issues relating to matters pending in the Court of law and refrain from use of language inimical to the broadcast profession,”

You could recollect that, two months ago, the founder of DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and RayPower, Raymond Dokpesi’s passport was seized when he returned to the country after a medical trip to Dubai. He was also detained for hours over investigation on N2.1 billion allegedly collected from the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

As at the time of filling this report, we’ve not been notified of the response from the management of DAAR Communication on the allegations.