NBC suspends licence of Brekete family human rights radio

By our reporter|  The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday suspended the licence of Ahmad Isah’s troubled Human Rights Radio for “recurring unprofessional conduct”.

The activist, had in a BBC Africa Eye documentary slapped a lady who was accused of setting her brother’s daughter on fire.

Although Isah, apologised for his action, the NBC summoned him to explain the circumstances behind the incident.

His explanations, however, may not have satisfied the agency as it on Thursday said it met with the Brekete Family show host on May 26, and “has reviewed the events and notes unreserved apologies and regrets expressed by the broadcaster”.

According to the commission, the action was in clear violation of the broadcasting code and a betrayal of confidence placed on him by the people and the federal government.

While recognising that the radio station has tuned its programming to the yearnings of the people, it noted that the station has been repeatedly warned and fined over abuse of ethics over the years.

It, therefore, ordered the suspension of the station’s licence for 30 days, effective from May 31.

“It is important to state that the commission has, over the years, advised, cautioned, warned, and fined the station over repeated cases of outright abuse, denigrating remarks, intimidation, and flagrant abuse of ethics of the fairness, balance, fair hearing on the station,” the NBC statement read.

“It is also on record that the commission had conducted several training and retraining programmes for the station and the host of the Brekete Family programme especially.

“The commission has, therefore, in line with the sanction provisions in 15.5.2 of the broadcasting code, ordered the suspension of licence of the broadcaster, until the broadcaster commits to ethical and professional broadcasting. The suspension order is effective from Monday the 31st of May 2021, at 12am.

“The order shall last 30 days during which it is expected that the broadcaster will put its house in order and attune itself to responsive, professional, and responsible broadcasting.

“It shall also pay a recommencement fee of as provided for in section 15.5.1 of the broadcasting code at the end of the suspension period.”