NEWS
Court Strikes Down NBC’s Power To Fine Media Houses, Declares Actions Unlawful
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) lacks the legal authority to impose fines or unilaterally penalize independent media organizations in Nigeria.
The judgment effectively nullifies the N5 million fines imposed on four media outlets in 2022 and restricts the NBC from further sanctions without judicial oversight.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Nicholas Oweibo in June 2024, followed a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
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The certified true copy of the judgment was made public last Friday.
Justice Oweibo held that the NBC’s imposition of fines on Trust TV, Multichoice Nigeria, NTA-Startimes, and Telcom Satellite Limited violated constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.
He described the sanctions as unlawful, emphasizing that the NBC had acted without proper legal authority.
“The NBC and its agents lack the legal power and authority to impose penalty unlawfully and unilaterally, including fines, suspension, withdrawal of license or any form of punishment whatsoever on independent media houses for promoting access to diverse information on issues of public importance,” Justice Oweibo declared.
The court also struck down the provisions of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code that had been used to justify the penalties, describing them as inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights laws.
Fines on Media Outlets Overturned
In 2022, the NBC fined the media houses N5 million each for airing documentaries on terrorism, including the BBC’s Africa Eye production “Bandits Warlords of Zamfara.”
The commission alleged that the documentaries glorified banditry and threatened national security.
Justice Oweibo dismissed these claims, stating that the NBC’s actions breached constitutional safeguards and undermined judicial due process.
“A fine is a criminal sanction, and only the court is empowered by the Constitution to impose it,” the judge ruled.
SERAP and CJID’s Legal Standing Upheld
The court also addressed NBC’s challenge to the legal standing of SERAP and CJID in filing the lawsuit. Justice Oweibo ruled that the organizations were well within their rights to sue, describing the case as one of significant public interest.
“SERAP and CJID have been vested with locus standi… Considering their core mandates and the affidavit in support of their suit, it is to be seen that this is a public interest case,” he said.
The judge added that NBC’s actions violated fundamental rights under sections 22, 36, and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as Articles 1, 7, and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court granted several declarations and orders in favor of the plaintiffs, including:
A declaration that the fines imposed on the media houses were unlawful and violated the principles of legality and proportionality.
An order setting aside the N5 million fines imposed on Trust TV, Multichoice Nigeria, NTA-Startimes, and Telcom Satellite Limited.
A perpetual injunction restraining the NBC from imposing further penalties on media houses without judicial authorization.
Reactions to the Judgment
Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP, welcomed the judgment and urged immediate compliance.
“We urge the NBC to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law by immediately obeying and respecting the judgment of the court,” he said.
Oluwadare also called on President Bola Tinubu to direct relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Information and Culture, to disclose agreements impacting media freedom, such as the NBC’s deal with Twitter.
“The immediate enforcement and implementation of the judgment will be a victory for the rule of law, freedom of expression, and media freedom in Nigeria,” he added.
This ruling is seen as a significant victory for press freedom in Nigeria, particularly as journalists and media organizations face increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Legal experts say the judgment reaffirms the judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights and ensures that regulatory bodies like the NBC operate within the bounds of the law.
Justice Oweibo emphasized the need to protect public interest, noting that punishing media houses for documentaries addressing critical security issues could have a chilling effect on journalism.
In a historic move, Turkey’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after a 13-year suspension.
The first flight, carrying 349 passengers, departed from Istanbul International Airport on Thursday morning, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
The resumption of flights marks the end of a pause dating back to April 2012, when the airline suspended operations due to the onset of the Syrian civil war.
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The decision comes as relations between the two nations improve and reflects a growing trend of Syrians returning to their homeland after years of displacement.
Turkey, which hosts approximately 3 million Syrian refugees—the highest number worldwide—has witnessed many Syrians preparing to return home.
Anadolu reported that several passengers on Thursday’s flight were traveling to Syria for the first time in over a decade.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” said Ahmet Kiraz, a passenger who had lived in Turkey since 2012. Kiraz expressed his disbelief at finally being able to return home, a moment he had thought might never come.
Images from the scene showed travelers boarding the plane with the Syrian flag draped across their shoulders, a symbol of both pride and a longing for their homeland.
Turkish Airlines announced plans to operate three flights per week to Damascus, with further details expected to be disclosed later in the day.
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Ezra Vandan, also known as Azranur AV, has been detained in Istanbul for publicly announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
The announcement, made on social media, sparked outrage and led to her arrest by the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau.
Vandan had shared her intentions on January 14, 2025, posting a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption: “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours.”
She reportedly planned to live-stream the event, which was widely criticised as “obscene” and “damaging to societal morals.”
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According to reports, the post drew the attention of authorities, who initiated an investigation and apprehended her while she awaited a cosmetic surgery operation in Atasehir. Footage captured her being escorted down the stairs of a hospital by female officers, her wrists bound behind her.
In a controversial twist, Vandan allegedly uploaded a revealing image taken during her arrest by a police officer, captioning it, “I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t object much.”
Her husband, Pedram Behdar Vandan, 25, was also briefly detained but later released.
The Istanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has charged Vandan with obscenity, resisting an officer on duty, and slander, stating that her actions and posts were “damaging to moral values” and “provocative to society.”
Defending herself in court, Vandan argued that her posts were personal and did not harm anyone. “I do not deserve to be judged,” she said.
The case has reignited debates in Turkey about personal freedom and societal values.
Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.
The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.
Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.
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According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.
India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.
In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.
India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.
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