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.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has explained the reason behind the suspension of the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course for prospective corps members deployed to Niger State.
In a notice shared on its official X account on Sunday, the scheme said the orientation exercise was put on hold due to ongoing renovation work at the state’s orientation camp.
According to the NYSC, the temporary suspension affects all prospective corps members (PCMs) posted to Niger State for the current orientation programme.
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“This is to notify the General Public and Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) deployed to Niger State for the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course that their Orientation Course Exercise is suspended for now due to ongoing renovation work at the Orientation Camp,” the statement read.
The scheme assured affected corps members that alternative arrangements would be communicated soon, noting that they would be informed of a new reporting date and venue once preparations are completed.
“PCMs affected should note that they will be contacted at a short notice on where and when to report for their Orientation Course,” the NYSC added.
The management also apologised for the inconvenience caused to both the prospective corps members and their parents.
“The Management regrets all inconveniences to the affected PCMs and their parents,” the statement said.
The suspension comes months after a devastating windstorm damaged critical facilities at the NYSC orientation camp in Paiko, located in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The storm reportedly affected several structures, including male hostels, the multipurpose hall, kitchen and staff quarters.
Following the incident, the Niger State Government commenced rehabilitation and renovation works aimed at restoring the camp’s infrastructure to a suitable condition for hosting corps members.
While the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course began nationwide on June 10 and is expected to conclude on June 30, corps members posted to Niger State will now have to await further directives from the NYSC regarding their orientation exercise.
The Nigerian Army has recorded another success in its ongoing offensive against terrorism and banditry in Zamfara State, forcing terrorists to flee their hideout, destroying their camp, and rescuing three kidnapped victims.
According to an operational report released on Saturday, troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, carried out the operation on June 12 across communities in Zurmi and Shinkafi Local Government Areas of the state.
The report stated that troops conducting a fighting patrol through Birnin Saba, Yanbuki, and Sabon Garin Daudawa communities came into contact with terrorists operating in the Yanbuki District of Zurmi LGA.
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During the encounter, troops engaged the criminals in a gun battle, successfully neutralising one terrorist while others escaped into nearby areas.
Security forces recovered several items from the scene, including rifles, four magazines loaded with ammunition, two motorcycles, seven mobile phones, two MP3 players, woodland camouflage trousers, and an inner vest.
Maintaining pressure on the fleeing terrorists, the troops advanced toward Sabon Garin Daudawa. On sighting the approaching soldiers, the terrorists reportedly abandoned their camp and fled.
The troops subsequently cleared the area and destroyed the camp to prevent it from serving as a base for future criminal operations.
In the course of the clearance operation, three kidnapped victims were rescued and safely evacuated from the area.
The military said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to rid Zamfara and other parts of the North-West of terrorist and bandit groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations across the region until lasting peace and security are restored to affected communities.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a shipment of weapons allegedly destined for a notorious bandit kingpin operating in Zamfara State and arrested a suspected arms courier in Kano State.
According to an operational report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the suspect was apprehended on Friday in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State following intelligence-led operations by DSS operatives.
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The report disclosed that the suspect was intercepted while transporting a cache of arms and ammunition from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Funtua in Katsina State, from where the weapons were expected to be delivered to criminal elements.
Items recovered from the suspect included three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes and warheads, as well as two empty magazines.
Security sources said preliminary investigations linked the weapons consignment to a suspected bandit leader believed to be operating in parts of Zamfara State.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he had been contracted to move the weapons from Maigatari to Funtua and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.
The report noted that investigations are ongoing to uncover the network behind the arms trafficking operation and identify other individuals connected to the movement of the weapons.
Authorities described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in efforts to disrupt the flow of arms and ammunition to criminal groups responsible for violent attacks, kidnappings, and other security threats across the North-West region.
The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.
The development comes as security agencies continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling logistics networks that support banditry, terrorism, and other forms of organised crime across Nigeria.
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