Atiku hails court verdict voiding NBC’s power to fine broadcast stations

Says it will enhance free press, democracy

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alh Atiku Abubakar has hailed the verdict of the Federal High Court Court, on Wednesday, declaring null and void, the actions of the National Broadcasting Commission in imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.
Atiku, in a press statement by his media office on Thursday, said that the ruling of the court is an enhancement of the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech.
The former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, maintained that the ruling of the Federal High Court on the dictatorial practices by the NBC will ensure that the media in Nigeria is not gagged and that the citizens can enjoy their rights to freedom of expression.
According to him, “I have read reports about the judgment by a Federal High Court presided over by the Honourable Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia concerning the propriety of the NBC issuing fines to broadcast stations upon their editorial contents.
“I am happy to announce my support for the judgement of the court. I am even happier that the said judgement will further boost the ethos of democratic norms in our body politics.
“While I commend the court for this bold decision, it is adequate that we all recognize the courage of the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) for having tested our laws on this draconian practice by the regulatory body,” Atiku said.
It will be recalled that the National Broadcasting Commission had imposed a fine of N5 million on some media outlets on account of a documentary that pictures the parlous state of insecurity in Nigeria in the year 2022.