Kaduna Killings: NBC Slams N5m Fine On Radio Station

A Nigerian radio station has been slammed with a N5 million fine by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Nigeria Info 99.3FM, based in Lagos State was fined on Thursday, August 13, by the regulatory commission for allowing its platform to be used to promote unverifiable claims.

Recall that a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailaifa, while speaking on the radio on August 10, had claimed that some governors are contributing to the festering insecurity in the country by providing financial and moral support for the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.

Reacting, NBC said Mailafia’s claims are unverified and are capable of inciting violence in the country amid mounting security threats, saying for that reason the radio station is fined.

In a statement by the by the NBC, it said that it was concerned with “the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, in the handling of the Programme, “Morning Cross Fire.”

“Mailafia Obadiah’s comments on the “Southern Kaduna Crisis”, were devoid of facts and by broadcasting same to the public, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, is in violation of the following sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,” NBC said.

Meanwhile, Mailafia has opened up on his interrogation by the Department of State Services (DSS). Mailafia was invited by the DSS over a claim he made that a governor from northern Nigeria is one of the commanders of Boko Haram.