The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Arise Television for releasing fake news about the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The television station is set to pay N2,000,000.00 for breaching the broadcasting code.
A letter dated November 13, 2022, and addressed to the management of the station contains the details of the sanction.
The letter by the commission is titled: “BREACH OF THE NIGERIA BROADCASTING CODE: Sanction.
It partly reads: “The National Broadcasting Commission has imposed a penalty of N2, 000,000.00 (Two Million Naira, Only) on Arise TV, being sanctioned for the violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“On Saturday 12th November 2022, the Commission monitored the use of a press release purportedly signed by Festus Okoye Esq, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, by Arise TV.
“The said Press Release alleged that INEC is investigating the issue of forfeiture by a US Court against the presidential Candidate of the APC, with a view to prosecution. The press release in reference has been tagged FAKE by INEC and the organization has also issued a counter press release to refute the story.”
The station was fined, following a protest letter to NBC by the Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), and Mr. Dele Alake.
