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Hate Speech: NBC to Sanction AIT, Channels TV, NTA, TVC

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The  Federal Government on Wednesday warned broadcast stations in the country against picking results of the forthcoming elections from the social media.

It said the Independent National Electoral commission remained the only official source of election results.

The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Is’haq Kawu, gave the warning on behalf of the Federal Government at a press briefing in Abuja.

Kawu said any television or radio station that violated the order would be sanctioned.

He also disclosed the commission’s readiness to sanction some television stations in the country over what he called hate speech.

He attributed the crises that characterised the 1983 general elections in the country to the release of unauthorised results by broadcast stations.

He said, “No reports or results must be released by broadcast stations from the social media until the Independent National Electoral Commission must have released such results.

“The results of the 1983 elections were released  before the commission released its results and this led to a lot of crises. This must not happen in 2019.”

Kawu said four television stations had already been listed for sanctions.

He listed the affected stations as the Africa Independent Television, Channels Television, Nigerian Television Authority and Television Continental News.

He said letters had been sent to the affected organisations notifying them about their offences and fine.

“There are new entries into the Nigerian Broadcasting Code. The sixth edition of the code contains very strong entries about hate and dangerous speech and the consequence of broadcasting in the country,” he added.

He said the commencement of campaigns on October 18 made the national stations to become agog with sponsored live rallies, debates and campaigns by political parties, particularly the two main ones- the  All Progressives Congress  and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Regrettably, he said the commission had observed through monitoring of the stations that politicians “have refused to learn from mistakes of the past despite efforts of the NBC to sensitise and remind them of their responsibilities.”

He added, “We monitored live rallies and campaigns of the parties and in recent times, live political rallies of political parties have been laced with indecent and abusive language, name calling and vehement allegations and use of hate speech.

“For instance, on January 10, 2019, at the presidential campaign rally of the PDP broadcast by the AIT, the national chairman of the party accused INEC of rigging previous elections and threatened crisis if elections were rigged.

“Some of the excerpts were: ‘We want to warn INEC, all the previous elections you rigged and you escaped, the 2019 elections, you cannot escape unless you want to cause crisis in Nigeria. Let us warn Prof Yakubu; if you want to cause crisis in Nigeria, rig the elections. If you want peace, elections must be free and fair.’ That is from The PDP.

“At a live APC governorship rally held on Friday, January 3, 2019, and aired on the NTA, a stalwart of the APC, Rotimi Amaechi, was quoted as saying: ‘I will just continue to say the truth. The truth I will tell you is that they are telling Nigerians that Nigerians are hungry. Indeed, if Nigerians are hungry, if these people left money they stole, will Nigerians be hungry? Exactly the $2bn that they stole. At least, I know about that one, we will not be here today.’

“The party chairman also added: ‘You must remember that the last PDP government turned Plateau workers to slaves and so on and so forth.’

“The expressions in the excerpts captured, can be seen to be abusive and not decent for broadcast contrary to certain sections of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code: 525, 533.”

He said further,  “So, based on the foregoing, the four main channels that have been broadcasting: the AIT, the TVC News, Channels TV and the NTA, are culpable and contravening the provisions of the Code on Political Broadcast in line with the provisions of Sections 524 of the Code.”

He said television stations would be held responsible for abuses from those speaking on live broadcast.

Kawu also called on broadcast station owners to get equipment that could either detect hate speech or delay such speech a little in order to get them edited.

“Technology can help. You can take away bad words. You can have a delayed mechanism to checkmate the (live telephone) callers.

“We will follow the code in sanctioning the stations, though some stations now add money for the expected sanction to the amount they charge people on their live coverage.

“What the politicians say on such live programmes is not my business, but the duty or essence of the broadcasting code is what I am after,” he said.

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Natasha Disowns Viral TikTok Video Praising Tinubu

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The Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distanced herself from a viral TikTok video that surfaced online showing her dancing to “Omo Ologo”, a song in praise of President Bola Tinubu.

In a public disclaimer released via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Akpoti-Uduaghan denied owning any TikTok account, warning the public against being misled by parody accounts across various social media platforms.

“I do not own a TikTok account,” she posted.

“Many parody accounts exist in my name on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Some have garnered large followings.”

She clarified that the circulating video was manipulated from an old 2023 clip and repurposed with “mischievous intent” to mislead the public.

“While I hold the President in utmost respect, I’d urge everyone to disregard the mischievous post made using an old 2023 video of mine,” she stated.

The video, sound-tracked by “Omo Ologo”, a praise song performed by Dauda Kahutu Rarara at a recent event attended by Tinubu in Katsina, appeared to depict the senator aligning herself with the president’s camp.

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Court Hands EFCC Three Days Ultimatum to Conclude 10-Year-Old Corruption Charges Against Dasuki

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Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted three consecutive days to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude the ten-year-old corruption charges it instituted against a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Dasuki’s counsel initiated legal arguments when he challenged the status of the subpoena because it was issued to the DSS as an entity not recognised by the law of the country.

The EFCC lawyer, however, countered the objection, insisting that DSS was a creation of statute and that there had been no confusion in the identity of the organisation.

“The document was duly served on Department of State Security (DSS). The Department has no confusion as to its identity.

“The witness did not exhibit any confusion as to his invitation by the Court. The objection as to form does not defeat the end of Justice. We humbly pray the Court not to sustain the objection in the interest of substantial justice.”

In the end, Justice Lifu admitted the subpoena as an exhibit and reserved his ruling to be delivered along with the main charge.

“I have carefully and painstakingly listened to learned counsel on the admissibility of the document sought to be tendered by the prosecution.

“I have also perused the document in relation to the name on the said subpoena. Admissibility of documentary evidence is governed by the law of evidence, and it is determined by relevancy.

“Being a criminal case which is about 10 years old in the docket of this court, coupled with the fact that ACJA 2015 envisages speedy dispensation of criminal justice, this document shall be admitted and a ruling shall be incorporated into the final judgement of this court,” said Justice Lifu.

The judge drew the attention of the parties to the fact that the case had dragged and suffered delay for ten years, having been filed in 2015.

At the proceedings, the first prosecution witness and exhibit keeper with the DSS, Monsur Mohammed, was permitted to give evidence on the strength of the subpoena.

He subsequently presented several items found in Dasuki’s properties at 13 John Khadije Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro Abuja; Sabon Birnin Road, Sokoto; and Sultan Abubakar Road, also in Sokoto.

Four different search warrants executed in July 2015 at the four properties led to the recovery of the undisclosed items.

In the end, the DSS exhibit keeper admitted that nothing incriminating was found on the properties.

After the evidence, Justice Lifu held that in the circumstances of the case and by consent of all counsel, “this suit is hereby adjourned to 7, 8 and 9 July 2025 at the instance of the Court for further hearing.

He added: “The learned prosecutor is expected to close his case on these adjourned dates.”

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Tinubu in Anambra, Pleads for Patience, Understanding Amid Hardship

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President Bola Tinubu has issued a passionate call for unity, resilience, and renewed patriotism, urging Nigerians to stand firm behind ongoing reforms aimed at rebuilding the country’s economic foundation.

Speaking during a grand reception in Awka, Anambra State, on the occasion of his state visit, President Tinubu acknowledged the current challenges facing the nation but assured the people that the hard choices were necessary for lasting prosperity.

“We continue to plead with Nigerians for their patience and understanding,” Tinubu appealed.

“We call on all patriots and progressives to rise and continue to work hard every day for the greatness of our dear country. We have no other country but Nigeria. We must make it great as the pride of the black race.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development, citing progress made in economic reform, infrastructure investment, and improved public finance management.

“We met near-insolvent public finance… unsustainable multiple subsidies… a chaotic and debilitating forex regime. These monsters have been tackled,” he said.

Highlighting renewed investor confidence and growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, Tinubu said the “Renewed Hope Agenda” was already yielding visible results.

He particularly commended Anambra for leading in innovation and development, referencing the commissioning of the Solution Fun City and Government House Mini-City as signs of progress.

Describing Governor Chukwuma Soludo as “a brilliant man” and “a thinker who knows the way,” Tinubu added: “We are working together for a better Anambra and Nigeria.”

The president also praised Anambra State for fully implementing and even surpassing the new national minimum wage, calling it “a signal of true leadership and compassion for the working class.”

Asserting the federal government’s commitment to equitable development, Tinubu promised increased investment in roads, power, rail, and digital infrastructure across all regions, including the Southeast.

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