The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for declaring null and void some provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, authorising the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breaches of the Code.
Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by a pro-media rights group, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), against the NBC – following the commission’s imposition of fines of N5 million each on three television stations in 2022 for allegedly undermining Nigeria’s national security by broadcasting documentaries on banditry in Nigeria, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the NBC not being a court of law, acted above its powers by imposing such fines.
The NGE has also criticised the reported invasion of ABN TV by a team of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest a guest during a Live-Programme in Umuahia, Abia state, recently.
In a statement by the NGE’s President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Sunday, the umbrella of editors and media executives in Nigeria, said that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s ruling has vindicated its consistent position over the years that the NBC cannot be the accuser, the investigator and the judge on matters relating to alleged breaches of the Broadcast Code.
“Our position has always been that an independent body, institution or competent court of law should be the one to examine any perceived infraction by the broadcast stations, which should be given the opportunity to defend themselves.
“The court is right in its ruling – by saying that NBC had arrogated judiciary power to itself by imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law,” the Guild stated.
The editors also reiterated their earlier resolution to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders over the NBC Act and the Broadcast Code of Conduct – with the aim to amend and reform them to conform to the global best practices.
On the reported invasion of ABN TV by a police team to arrest a guest during a Live-Programme, the Guild said that the action was unnecessary and uncalled for.
“This action of the police is uncivilized, barbaric and confrontational. No matter the enormity of the alleged offence, the police officers could have without difficulty waited for the live programme to come to an end before swinging into action”, the NGE stated.
