IPOB: Censorship Of Media Is Unacceptable — Fani-kayode Condemns Channelstv Sanction

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has today
condemned the suspension of ChannelsTv by the National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, over the invitation of Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC had accused ChannelsTv
of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false and
misleading statements about the Nigerian army, despite being
proscribed by a court of law.

The Commission referred to Channels 7 pm live broadcast
programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV
station of allowing a leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra,
IPOB to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without
caution or reprimand by the station contrary to the broadcast
code.

But reacting to the suspension, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode cautioned
NBC, noting that such action would portray the Nation as gagging
the press.

“It is wrong for NBC to sanction @channelstv simply because they
allowed the spokesman of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful, to answer some
pertinent and vital questions about the attack on the home of the
Governor of Imo state. Censorship of the media is unacceptable in a
democracy,” he said.

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has today
condemned the suspension of ChannelsTv by the National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, over the invitation of Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC had accused ChannelsTv
of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false and
misleading statements about the Nigerian army, despite being
proscribed by a court of law.

The Commission referred to Channels 7 pm live broadcast
programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV
station of allowing a leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra,
IPOB to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without
caution or reprimand by the station contrary to the broadcast
code.

But reacting to the suspension, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode cautioned
NBC, noting that such action would portray the Nation as gagging
the press.

“It is wrong for NBC to sanction @channelstv simply because they
allowed the spokesman of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful, to answer some
pertinent and vital questions about the attack on the home of the
Governor of Imo state. Censorship of the media is unacceptable in a
democracy,” he said.