The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has been asked to revoke the licences of Arise News TV, Africa Independent Television (AIT), and Channels Television.
Writing NBC to take the action, the Coalition of Civil Societies for Police Reform and National Unity said the broadcast regulating body must revoke the TV stations licences over “unprofessional coverage of the #ENDSARS protests.”
According to the group, the TV stations, with their coverages, incensed the public and contributed to the destruction of critical national and private assets worth trillions of Naira.
Speaking on the matter, the National Coordinator of the group, Prince Mike Ekamon said: “This Coalition will sue the stations concerned for purveying fake news during the recent nationwide #ENDSARS protest against police brutality in the country.”
He further stated that the three broadcast stations ran foul of section 5.4.1 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code which deals with the coverage of crisis, emergencies and protests.
“This section stipulates that the broadcaster shall present news and commentary on a crisis, emergency and protest in accordance with the professional standards.
“And must at all times ensure that the coverage of a disaster, crisis, emergency, protest is aimed at the overall public interest, safety, guidance.
“And must provide authentic information, not broadcast morbid or graphic details of death, injury, pain, protest or agony and when necessary with due caution, not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.”
Ekamon maintained that in reporting protests, the broadcasters should have performed the role of peace agents by adhering to the principle of accuracy and neutrality.
He further stressed that the three broadcast stations violated the Nigerian broadcasting code by broadcasting footages on the Lekki shooting by soldiers from unverified and unauthenticated social media sources.
“This escalated the protest that engulfed Nigeria and gave the platform to hoodlums and other undesirable elements to wreck public peace and property,” he added.
Recall that barely a week ago, NBC imposed a fine of N3 million each on the TV stations for “airing unverified images of the alleged shooting of the #EndSARS peaceful protests.”
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