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Tag: channels Tv

  • I’m deeply touched by your concern – Seun Okinbaloye addresses rumoured sack on live TV

    I’m deeply touched by your concern – Seun Okinbaloye addresses rumoured sack on live TV

    Channels TV anchor Seun Okinbaloye addressed the public on Monday night after returning to the screens following a vacation in the United States.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that the journalist was rumoured on social media to have been sacked by the media organisation.

    However, before hosting the Politics Today show on Monday night, Okinbaloye said on X that he was back and had an announcement to make.

    “Back on the Grind….#vacationmode over. Let’s meet tonight at 7pm on @channelstv. I have something to tell you all,” he wrote.

    Addressing the rumour on air, he said, “There were stories making the rounds that I was sacked from my employment here at Channels Television. Well, that was not true. Was I sacked? Absolutely not.

    “Dear viewers, I’m deeply touched by your concern and kind words during my absence from the screen for several weeks which sounds unusual to some of you. Your unwavering belief in the Nigerian dream…in the face of challenges inspire me everyday.

    “I want to assure you that Channels Television as a media organisation operates with high standards of fairness and integrity as much as I know in the last 12 years or so that I’ve joined Channels Television.”

    Okinbaloye added that the broadcaster treats its employees with care and does not relieve appointments indiscriminately.

    Geoffrey Uzono deputised for Okinbaloye while the latter was on vacation.

  • N423bn Probe: El-Rufai drags Channels TV, lawmaker to court

    N423bn Probe: El-Rufai drags Channels TV, lawmaker to court

    The former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has filed a lawsuit against Channels TV and a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Henry Marah over alleged defamation.

    In the lawsuit filed before an FCT High Court dated July 11, 2024, El-Rufai, through his counsel, A.U. Mustapha, said the lawmaker made derogatory comments during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today show on June 5.

    Marah was quoted in the interview as saying that El-Rufai’s borrowings during his time as governor were done without due process and the funds unaccounted for.

    El-Rufai is being investigated for alleged mismanagement of N423 billion loan.

    The ex-governor is contending that the interview was “malicious, unwarranted, without justification, defamatory and greatly injurious to the reputation of the claimant.”

    The former governor is demanding the sum of N3 billion jointly over the injury, embarrassment and distress suffered by the claimant in respect of the loss of reputation and goodwill as a result of the malicious, unwarranted and defamatory publication.

    El-Rufai had earlier filed an N1 billion suit claiming lack of fair hearing to him by the ad-hoc committee on Investigation of loans, financial transactions, contractual liabilities and other related matters of the government of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing.

  • Abducted Channels TV reporter regains freedom

    Abducted Channels TV reporter regains freedom

    Channels Television reporter, Joshua Rogers, who was abducted from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor area in Rivers, has been freed.

    He was released around 10p.m. on Friday unharmed, less than 24 hours after being abducted on Thursday.

    His colleague, Charles Oporum, confirmed the news of his release in the late hours of Friday.

    “Yes, he has been released about an hour ago, and has reunited with his family,” Oporum said.

    The management of the television station also confirmed Rogers’ release in a brief statement.

    “The statement reads: “Channels Television reporter, Joshua Rogers, who was abducted last night in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been freed.

    “We thank our viewers and all those who expressed concern over the unfortunate incident.”

    A video was sighted showing Rogers celebrating with his family after he regained his freedom.

    However, it remains unclear whether he was rescued by security forces or if ransom was paid for his release.

    The Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had launched rescue efforts during his abduction.

    Rogers is Channels TV’s Government House Correspondent in Port Harcourt.

  • Police confirm abduction of Channels TV reporter in Rivers

    Police confirm abduction of Channels TV reporter in Rivers

    The Police Command in Rivers has confirmed the abduction of a reporter with Channels Television, Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor area of Rivers.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, affirmed in Port Harcourt on Friday, that the reporter was abducted in the late hours of Thursday.

    She said the Police was collaborating with other security agencies to secure his early release from his abductors.

    “The Rivers Police command is aware of Rogers abduction and efforts are already underway to secure his release.

    “Although his abductors are yet to make contact, we are working with other security agencies to get him freed,” Iringe-Koko assured.

    Rogers, a Channels Government House Correspondent in Rivers, was abducted at about 9 p.m. on Thursday after returning home from covering an event.

    A reliable source who pleaded anonymity because he wasn’t permitted to speak on the matter, said that Rogers was trailed after he closed from work to his apartment.

    “The gunmen trailed him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him away along with his vehicle to an unknown destination at about 9p.m.

    “We later heard that the kidnappers later contacted his wife and demanded N30 million for his release,” the source said.

    Another source said that Rogers, had earlier in the day covered the inauguration of a Primary Healthcare Centre by Gov. Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers, before his kidnap.

    “Rogers was returning to his Rumuosi home from Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers, when he was kidnapped.

    “I do not understand why the gunmen targeted a journalist that is just doing his job of informing, educating and entertaining the public.

    “Journalists are known not to be wealthy, and so, the kidnappers should release him immediately and unhurt,” the source said.

  • Channels TV reacts to NBC’s N5m fine

    Channels TV reacts to NBC’s N5m fine

    “We will stand for what is right and speak truth to power, even in the face of adversity” Channels TV‘s Seun Okinbaloye has said days after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), slammed the TV station with N5m fine over his interview with Baba Datti-Ahmed.

    The regulatory body had last week slammed Channels the fine, following a petition received from the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, over Okinbaloye’s interview with the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour party, Datti Baba-Ahmed on March 22 in which Datti openly kicked against the swearing-in of Tinubu as President come May 29.

    Baba-Ahmed called on President Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria not to swear in Tinubu, insisting that declaring Tinubu a winner and issuing him a certificate of return was against the constitution.

    “Whoever swears in Mr Tinubu, Mr Baba-Ahmed said, has ;ended Democracy’ in Nigeria. Mr President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN your lordship, do not partake in unconstitutionality.

    “I am taking this risks for the sake of my country. Yes, it is extreme and I am saying it. It was more extreme for Yakubu (INEC Chair) to issue that certificate (of return).

    “It was reckless. He is putting all our lives in danger. All of us. I am telling you that on the 29th of May 2023, swear in Tinubu as this result is, you have ended democracy whoever you are.

    “You cannot swear in people who have not met constitutional requirements. If you do that, you have done something unlawful, something unconstitutional. And I am repeating it, whoever does not meet the constitutional requirement must not, must never be sworn in. You said my name.

    “If you like I can say it again. I am Datti Baba-Ahmed.”

    In a petition signed by one of his media aides, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu accused the Labour Party LP Vice Presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed of making several incendiary comments during the interview and noted that Okinbaloye failed to act professionally by stopping the politician from making such comments.

    The NBC then slammed a N5 million fine on the TV station.

    In an apparent reaction to the fine, Seun while closing his political program on Sunday night, April 2, said; “I want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges that we as a media industry are facing in Nigeria.

    “Events in the past days have created an environment of fear and uncertainty and threatened the freedom of speech and integrity of the media landscape but in spite of these challenges, we as journalists and broadcasters remain committed to our duty to inform, educate and entertain our audience.

    “We at Channels TV indulge in only reasonable and professional journalism. In the face of popular and reckless practice, we play clean and descent, even when it looks or sounds unpopular with the crowd or online mob, we do it not only for today but for the future and the sustenance of our profession others want to destroy but we want to protect it.

    “We will not be deterred by these obstacles. We will continue to stand up for what is right and speaks truth to power, even in the face of adversity. We will remain brave, strong, and resilient and we will not let our voices be silenced. Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

  • NBC slams N5m penalty on Channels TV over Datti Baba-Ahmed’s interview

    NBC slams N5m penalty on Channels TV over Datti Baba-Ahmed’s interview

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for allegedly breaking the broadcasting law in a programme with Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.

    This is contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27. The letter was exclusively obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

    It read in part:” The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

    “Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Ilelah said in the letter.

    He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

    This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.

    Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.

    He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.

    This, he said, was to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.

    “Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

    He added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

    “You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.

  • President-elect, Tinubu petitions NBC to sanction Channels TV Over Datti’s interview

    President-elect, Tinubu petitions NBC to sanction Channels TV Over Datti’s interview

    Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has written a petition to the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) to sanction Channels Television for breaching the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during an interview with the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba Ahmed.

    The petition which was signed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign council Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, was dated 30th March 2023.

    The petition reads: “In line with Section 14.0.1 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code 6th edition stating the duty of the commission to accept complaints from aggrieved persons, bodies or members of the public and investigate as well as apply sanctions where necessary, the APC PCC hereby petitions the commission on breaches by CHANNELS TV on its programme ‘Politics Today’ last week.”

    Tinubu accused Baba Ahmed of making several comments attacking the integrity of the 25th February 2023 Presidential elections. In the interview, he faulted the emergence of the former Lagos governor as the President-elect and categorically requested the Chief Justice of Nigeria and President Muhamadu Buhari not to swear him in.

    In his petition, Tinubu noted that the host of the show should have cautioned the Datti for making such unguarded comments and that for failing to do so, the station should be sanctioned.

    According to the petition, ”The guest on the programme in question, Datti Baba-Ahmed, said President Muhammadu Buhari should not swear in the President-elect because he did not score 25% of the vote in the FCT, being one of the prerequisites for being declared the winner. This is a subversive comment since the matter is among the issues submitted in their petition before the tribunal for adjudication. Therefore until the court rules otherwise, the status quo is the INEC position as declared in the final results.

    ”The guest Datti Baba Ahmed’s comments about LP winning the presidential vote undermine constituted authority given to INEC in the 1999 Constitution as the body vested with the powers to conduct and announce national general elections results in Nigeria. Any figures aside, this will have to be certified by a tribunal as the authentic one.

    ”Therefore, Mr Datti’s statements that the INEC certificate of return issued to Tinubu is a “dud cheque” and is null and void is not only divisive and subversive but also inciting and inflammatory.

    ”The Code states in Section 3.8.1(b) that ‘A Broadcaster shall ensure that no programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity or corporate existence of the nation as a Sovereign state’.

    ”The comment by Mr Datti later on the same programme that if ‘President Buhari should hand over to the President-elect by 29th May, that would be the end of democracy’ is another case of unguarded statement and breach of Section 5.3.3(b), which states that – ‘A Broadcaster shall avoid divisive and inflammatory matters in its provocative form in using political material’.

    ”Furthermore, Section 3.0.2.1 said that no Broadcaster shall encourage or incite crime, lead to public hate, disorder or repugnant to public feelings’ materials that cause disaffection.

    ”We, therefore, urge NBC to invoke the necessary sanctions on Channels Television for the breaches enumerated above.”

  • I will never step down for Lawan – Yobe senatorial candidate, Machina

    The All Progressives Congress  APC  Yobe North  senatorial candidate, Bashir Machina has insisted that he would never step down for current senate president Ahmad Lawan.

    Machina further revealed that Ahmad Lawan does not nurse the ambition to return to the senate after contesting the party’s presidential primary election.

    Machina, who insisted on not giving the ticket to Lawan, stated the senator would not have contested the party’s presidential primary if he had the ambition of returning to the Senate.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Lawan contested  APC’s presidential ticket and lost to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed at the primary by finishing in fourth position.

    However, there are insinuations flying around that Lawan is now seeking a transfer of the senatorial ticket secured by Machina to him to return to the Senate.

    Machina made this statement when he appeared on a current affairs programme on a Lagos based platform Channels TV on Wednesday evening.

    Machina revealed that the matter is a mere speculation that will not see the light of the day.

    “The pressure is more or less speculative. There wasn’t any clear-cut person or message directly that says I should step down but from the headquarters of my party (APC), recently I was informed that if I was still in the race, I should write formally to inform the party that I am.”

    He confirmed  that the letter that trended online was his response to the request from an unnamed caller from the national headquarters of the APC.

    “I formally wrote a letter to the party, reiterating and affirming my position, that I am still the candidate; that I did not withdraw, and I am not withdrawing, and I’m in the race in the event that anybody is contemplating or doubting that there is any move,” he said.

    When asked if the party’s leadership  ask him to step down for Lawan, Machina said, he wouldn’t.

    “No, I won’t step down because Ahmad Lawan did not contest for the Senate. Of course, it is a known fact that Ahmad Lawan contested for president and lost. And when I contested for Senate, Lawan did not participate (in the primary) or did not contest (for Senate). So, I don’t think that may be in any way an issue.”

    Asked if he would step down if president Buhari begs him to do so, he replied that APC would not repeat the undemocratic tendencies in other parties for which the ruling party was created to end.

    Machina further revealed that he’s got experience than Lawan by legislative ranking, saying that he joined the National Assembly long before Lawan.

    ” I was in the House of Representatives in the defunct Third Republic while Lawan joined the National Assembly in the Fourth Republic thus making me a senior to him”

     

  • 2023: Akpabio says Electoral law doesn’t ask appointees to resign

    2023: Akpabio says Electoral law doesn’t ask appointees to resign

    The debate on the provisions of section 84, subsection 12 of electoral act 2022 has continued with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and presidential aspirant, Godswill Akpabio, declaring that the section doesn’t say appointees should resign.

    He stated this while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

    The Minster stressed that the section was nonexistent as a court in Abia had rendered it unconstitutional.

    Thenewsguru.com recalls that the section says; “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

    Akpabio however said; “In terms of section 84(12), it speaks about elections. If you wish to go into primary, you should try to resign before you go there.

    In his words; “Even before Mr. President signed the bill, he had mentioned that it was not in line with the Nigerian constitution which contemplates 30 days before elections.”

    ALSO READ: Electoral Act: Only Appeal Court can upturn judgment on Section 84(12) – Malami

    2023: Why I joined presidential race – Akpabio

    According to the Minister, no matter the act of parliament, no matter the law, the constitution is superior, adding, “Noreover, it was shut down by a court of competent jurisdiction somewhere in Umuahia. So for now, that law doesn’t exist.”

    He stated that he wasn’t worried about the law because the constitution superceded it.

    “I would have been worried about how the appeal would go but for the constitution. It depends on the constitution at the end of the day. It’s not a constitutional amendment,” Akpabio started.

    Recall thenewsguru.ng reported here that opposition groups and some political commentators have raised concerns about the decision of many within the federal cabinet to retain their positions despite actively canvassing for support in 2023 general election.

  • Channels TV apologises for breach of broadcasting code – NBC

    Channels TV apologises for breach of broadcasting code – NBC

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Tuesday said Channels Television has apologised over its infraction of the broadcasting code.

    NBC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Franca Aiyetan, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Aiyetan explained that the commission’s letter to the TV station was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station called “the bridge letter “.

    She said that the intent of the letter was neither to close down nor sanction the station, rather it was meant to draw the station’s attention to its breach of the broadcasting code, adding that “the station has accordingly apologised’’.

    According to her, the letter is asking Channels TV to explain why it gave credence to an organisation that was already proscribed by the Federal Government.

    “It was actually not for public consumption, it was not a press release. It was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station.

    “It is a station that won an award but we say in this particular situation, you did not handle it professionally.

    “It is possible to bridge the public peace and that was what the letter conveyed to Channels TV, to which the TV station has responded, saying we apologise, we did wrong.

    “When the media started asking me about Channels TV, I had to go and find out what letter we had issued out because if it is a press release or something that is for public consumption it will come to the Public Affairs Department of NBC.

    “And I will be able to communicate to the media about it but this letter that went to Channels TV is our way of regulating the broadcasting industry.

    “It is called a bridge letter to the station to say in this particular programme you did not act professionally; you did not do it in line with the provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”

    The director further explained that the particular programme in reference was an interview of somebody who was representing an organisation that was already proscribed by the Federal Government.

    She said that in the exercise of its power as the regulatory body, NBC wrote a letter asking Channels TV to explain why it gave credence to the spokesman of the proscribed organisation.

    “The spokesman made lots of allusion that were not true, that are inciting and inimical to the peace of the society that could cause unrest.

    “The NBC now said because of that this bridge attracts a shut down or a fine of N5 million; but the pay line was that they were advised to discontinue the programme.

    “Because when a station interviews live, the keep repeating it for maybe 24 hours before that kind of news will be dropped.

    “And when I followed up on Monday April 26, I discovered that the monitoring department that had written the letter had also received an apology letter from the Channels TV to say okay, we have received your letter and see where we went wrong, we are sorry.

    “So it is now left for NBC to say this station has responded or reacted this way. The letter was neither meant to shut down the station nor sanction it. Rather, it is drawing their attention to what they have done.”

    Aiyetan said that the station was also free to write NBC back to say “we stand on what we have done because in our own professional analysis of what we have done we think we are right.’’

    “May be NBC misinterpreted our intention. And when we have a situation like that, we invite the station to sit down on dialogue table and understand where they are coming from.

    “And then we will also explain to say this is what you intend to do but for those receiving the signals, this is what it connotes, this is what the gravity of what you have done to the country.”

    According to her, when a particular programme in a bid to pursue a particular trending issue begins to threaten the security and peace of the nation, then you check yourself.

    “Because broadcasting is not self-serving; it is for the society. So everything you do must be to the common good of the people and it must also hold the people accountable.”