A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order stopping the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from revoking the licences of 53 broadcast stations in the country.
The presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, in his ruling on Monday upheld the arguments of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1034/2022, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine “whether section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten revoke the licences of 53 broadcast stations and shut them down is not in inconsistent with freedom of expression and access to information.”
The plantiffs argued that NBC’s threat to revoke the licences of 53 broadcast stations and to shut down the stations is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression.
Ruling on the arguments, Aluko granted an interim injunction stopping NBC from revoking the licences of the 53 broadcasting stations pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.”
The judge therefore adjourned hearing to 8th September, 2022.
The New Diplomat had reported that the NBC directed 53 broadcast outfits, including the African Independent Television, Silverbird Television and the broadcasting corporations run by various state governments to shut down their operations.
The commission hinged the decided on NBC debts incurred by the broadcasting organisations amounting to at least N2.6bn.
