The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been stripped of its power to fine broadcast stations for alleged code violations, according to a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, stated that the NBC cannot simultaneously hold administrative, legislative, and judicial powers.
This information was relayed to the press by Idowu Adewale, the Communications Officer for Media Rights Agenda (MRA), a non-governmental organisation.
MRA had taken legal action against the NBC for levying N5 million in fines on Trust Television, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Telcom Satellite Limited, and StarTimes Limited. These fines were imposed for broadcasting a documentary on banditry in Zamfara State in 2020.
In the lawsuit, MRA’s lawyer, Uche Amulu, asked the court to nullify the fine and questioned the NBC’s authority to impose sanctions. MRA contended that the NBC, not being a court of law, lacked the requisite independence and impartiality to penalize broadcast stations with fines.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia ruled in favor of MRA, annulling the fines that the NBC had imposed on a TV station and three pay TV platforms. However, she did not grant MRA’s requests for punitive damages, general damages, or lawsuit costs.