NBC fines Radio station for granting former Deputy CBN governor interview

Obinwannem News NBC fines Radio station for granting former Deputy CBN governor interview

The interview granted by 99.3 FM radio Lagos to the former Deputy Governor of Central Bank Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, has become subject of controversy. The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) sanctioned the Radio station the sum of 5 million Naira for alleged hate speech.

According to reports in the press, the federal government has accused the Radio Station of using their platform to promote unverifiable information and inciting report that can promote public disorder and increased crimes around the country.

Obinwannem News had earlier reported that the former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia was invited to the DSS over his live interview with Info Abuja 99.3 FM Lagos where he said one of the serving Governors from the North is the commander of Boko Haram, based on Intel from one of the “repentant bandits”.

Obadiah has since reported to the Jos office of the DSS, accompanied by his lawyers, Pius Akubo (SAN) and Yakubu Bawa. The interview lasted for 6 hours until 6:30 PM.

He was met by a jubilant crowd, some carrying placards to show support for his courage.

Addressing the crowd, he said a section of the 55 minutes interview was lifted, leaving the context in which he made the statement.

He stated, “We had a lively and intense interview over a radio interview I granted. That interview which was meant for an FM radio station, some just picked the clip, a small section of the 55 minutes broadcast and put it on social media and it went very very far all over the country, raising a lot of concerns.

“What I want to say is that, yes, all of those words were made by me, you know if the whole of the 55 minutes was played out, the context of what I said in a small clip that went viral would have become clearer.

“This is is not the time to disown what I said. Yes, I was privy to some very sensitive information which all statesmen are entitled to have by virtue of our public roles. I know that I should have taken more care to corroborate some of the information I received, but perhaps some of it was uncorroborated. I was in no position to follow them to the camp to corroborate what was going on.

“But I am not a sensationalist, I am an economist and a central banker, by nature we are not given to sensation.”

Speaking further, he said “Let me make it clear, I am a humanist, I am a man of peace. Even my name Mailafiya means a man if peace. From the bottom of my heart, I love our country daily and I abhor all the killings and violence which the innocent people of this country have been subjected to.

“I pray that Nigeria will never experience another civil war. I also pray that the killings will stop in Zamfara, Daura, in Katsina, in Birnin Gwari, in my beloved Southern Kaduna, in the whole of the middle belt, in Borno, Adamawa and other places.

“The most elementary duty of government is to protect its citizens. When a government fails to protect its citizens, to protect little children that is a serious matter. Let also said that any innocent boy or girl that is killed is my own child.

“I love Nigeria. Like Mandela, let me say if need be, I am prepared to give my life for Nigeria. Let us join hands together to build a new country, let us work together to save our country and I pray that all of us will do our part to maintain the peace and make sure that our country makes progress.

“I want to thank the officials of the State Department, they have done a tremendous job, they treated me professionally, I have not been rough-handled and they have been very very fair and gracious to me.”

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News

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