{"id":80028,"date":"2021-04-26T19:17:08","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T18:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=80028"},"modified":"2021-04-26T19:17:08","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T18:17:08","slug":"interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to suspend Channels Television, and to impose a fine of N5 million on the station purportedly for breaching the broadcast code.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

According to reports, the Acting Director General of the Commission, NBC, Professor Armstrong Idachaba in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television referred to Channels\u00a07pm<\/a>\u00a0live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April, 2021, in which it accused the TV station of interviewing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) allegedly without \u201ccaution or reprimand.\u201d<\/p>\n

But SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said: \u201cThe suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine. We will pursue appropriate legal action if the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal suspension and fine are not reversed within 48 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

SERAP said: \u201cThis action by the government and NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities\u2019 push to silence independent media and voices. The government and NBC lift the suspension and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.<\/p>\n

The statement, read in part: \u201cThis is a new low in Nigeria\u2019s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The suspension of Channels Television is detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the Federal Government and NBC must immediately reverse the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMedia freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover diverse views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe media has a vital role to play as \u2018public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. The Federal Government and NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government of President Buhari has a responsibility to protect Nigerians\u2019 rights to freedom of expression and access to information.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis suspension amounts to an arbitrary and unjust application of regulations against the media. International standards allow only official restrictions on the content of what the media can broadcast or print in extremely narrow circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cArticle 20 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria has ratified requires states to prohibit only advocacy that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Restrictions must be clearly defined, specific, necessary, and proportionate to the threat to interest protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution, and the country\u2019s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":79991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nInterview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pointblank News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"696\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"464\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Our Reporter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Our Reporter\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Our Reporter\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c\"},\"headline\":\"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\"},\"wordCount\":521,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\",\"name\":\"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg\",\"width\":696,\"height\":464},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/\",\"name\":\"Pointblank News\",\"description\":\"Just the news\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c\",\"name\":\"Our Reporter\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83b3820ef93d502ae3a617b2c881ca42?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83b3820ef93d502ae3a617b2c881ca42?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Our Reporter\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News","og_description":"Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to…","og_url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/","og_site_name":"Pointblank News","article_published_time":"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":696,"height":464,"url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Our Reporter","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Our Reporter","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/"},"author":{"name":"Our Reporter","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c"},"headline":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action","datePublished":"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/"},"wordCount":521,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/","url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/","name":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action - Pointblank News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg","datePublished":"2021-04-26T18:17:08+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/serap.jpg","width":696,"height":464},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/interview-with-ipob-spokesperson-serap-kicks-against-suspension-of-channels-tv-threatens-legal-action\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Interview with IPOB Spokesperson: SERAP kicks against suspension of Channels TV, threatens legal action"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#website","url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/","name":"Pointblank News","description":"Just the news","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/ba61acbe7e8967bcf3f3ba603d9db23c","name":"Our Reporter","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83b3820ef93d502ae3a617b2c881ca42?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83b3820ef93d502ae3a617b2c881ca42?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Our Reporter"},"url":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80028\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}