The management of DAAR Communications Plc, owner of AIT and Raypower FM, Abuja yesterday accused the management of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of victimising the company over its refusal to use its programme ‘Political Platform’ to project the federal government.
This development, it alleged, further led to the fine of N1.5bn the commission imposed on the company over the allegation of transmitting on 100.5MHz instead of the 100.3MHz-100.6MHz indicating a 300 KHz band occupancy, which exceeds the 150 KHz band occupancy limited allowed for FM Radio stations.
Also, the company said NBC accused it of ‘persistent and flagrant infringement on the provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code on its programme; “Political Platform”.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of DAAR Communications, Mr.
Tony Akiotu said his company was fined N1m and N500, 000 respectively for the two offences, which he said, did not occur.
He said: “In a letter reference No NBC/SEC/LIC/19/VoI.
Iv dated July 9, 2018, the commission claimed the “The National Broadcasting Commission in line with its statutory mandate carried out random spectrum scan on the FM band in Abuja on June 11, 2018.
“The scan indicates that your station (Raypower FM, Abuja) transmitting on 100.5MHz, occupied 100.3MHz– 100.6MHz indicating a 300 KHZ band occupancy which exceeds the 150 KHz Band occupancy limit allowed for FM Radio stations.” He continued: “However, we wish to state that possibly due to some ulterior motives calculated at a deterministic agenda, the commission hurriedly without recourse to its records, to verify certain facts, did not know that vide a letter reference No.
NBC/11/s.26/ Vol 1.259, dated February 10, 1999; signed by Mr.
Bright E.
Igbako, DAAR Communications Limited (as it then was) was issued a frequency assigned to Raypower FM radio Relay station in Abuja, letter for Transmission Boundary of 100.410 MHz to 100.590MHz and an operating frequency of 100.5MHz.
“In yet another letter dated July 24, 2018 reference No.
NBC/DGABU/ ILC07/18, delivered at our Corporate Headquarters on July 27, 2018 same day with the earlier letter, thus confirming a predetermined agenda.
The commission state thus: ” The National Broadcasting Commission has observed with dismay the persistent and flagrant infringement on the provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code on your programme; “Political Platform”.
“However, what the Commission did not state is that there have been several consultations and engagements on the programme and its vibrancy, popularity amongst the generality of our audiences/ Nigerians, the depths of the analysis and the thought- provoking views that are most patriotically expressed meant for the deepening of our democratic culture and ethos as a nation.
“Severally, we have been invited to the Commission to either drop some presenters or decimate/tone down the vibrancy of the programme.
“Succinctly put, we have been intimidated, threatened and every attempt made to muzzle and stifles our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression