The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) could no longer impose fines on broadcast stations for purported code infractions.
The ruling, issued by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, declared that the NBC was not allowed to wield legislative, judicial, and administrative authority at the same time.
Idowu Adewale, the Communications Officer for the non-governmental organisation Media Rights Agenda (MRA), provided this information to the media.
BREAKING: Court Stops NBC From Imposing Fines On Broadcast Stations
In response to the NBC fining Trust Television, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Telcom Satellite Limited, and StarTimes Limited N5 million, MRA filed a lawsuit against the organisation. The 2020 broadcast of a documentary about banditry in Zamfara State resulted in these sanctions.
Uche Amulu, the attorney for MRA, filed a lawsuit challenging the NBC’s jurisdiction to levy penalties and requesting that the court set aside the fine. MRA argued that the NBC lacked the necessary independence and impartiality to punish broadcast stations with fines because it was not a court of law.
After ruling in favour of MRA, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia overturned the sanctions that the NBC had levied on three pay TV platforms and a TV station. She rejected MRA’s demands for general damages, punitive penalties, and litigation expenses, nevertheless.
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