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January 18, 2024 Court Stops NBC From Imposing Fines On Broadcast Stations

Court Stops NBC From Imposing Fines On Broadcast Stations

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the power of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against NBC, following the Commission’s imposition of fines of N5 million each on a television station and three pay-tv platforms in 2022 for allegedly undermining Nigeria’s national security by broadcasting documentaries on banditry in Nigeria, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the NBC, being not a court of law, acted above its powers by imposing such fines.

The judge declared null and void the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, authorizing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breaches of the Code, as it ruled that administrative and regulatory bodies could not exercise judicial powers.

The judge commended MRA for challenging NBC’s action and issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Commission or anyone acting on its behalf from further imposing any fine on any media platform or broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

March 31, 2023 Obi Datti: Tinubu Petitions NBC To Sanction Channels TV

Obi Datti: Tinubu Petitions NBC To Sanction Channels TV

On March 30th, 2023, the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, submitted a petition to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) requesting that Channels Television be sanctioned for allegedly violating the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during an interview with the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Tinubu claims that Baba-Ahmed made several comments attacking the integrity of the Presidential elections held on February 25th, 2023, and criticizing Tinubu's emergence as President-elect.

The petition, signed by Bayo Onanuga, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council Director of Media and Publicity, cites various sections of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code 6th edition to support Tinubu's request for sanctions on Channels TV.

It notes that Baba Ahmed's comments on the show were subversive, divisive, and inflammatory.

Tinubu further alleges that the host of the show should have cautioned Baba-Ahmed for making such unguarded comments and that for failing to do so, the station should be sanctioned.

Baba-Ahmed suggested during the interview that Tinubu's INEC certificate of return was a "dud cheque" and null and void, and that if "President Buhari should hand over to the President-elect by 29th May, that would be the end of democracy."

Tinubu argues that such statements violate the NBC Code and should not be allowed to air.

July 7, 2022 Prohibit Smoking in BBNaija S7, Group Urges NBC

Prohibit Smoking in BBNaija S7, Group Urges NBC

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance has urged the National Broadcasting Commission to prohibit smoking in the upcoming Big Brother Naija Season 7.

The group said tobacco advertising had persisted in Nigerian movies and digital spaces, despite the ban placed by the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015.

In a press statement signed by its Programme Officer, Chubuike Nwokorie and made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday, the group also urged the Federal Government and all stakeholders to intensify enforcement of the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship in the country.

The statement partly read, “One of the most notorious violators of the TAPS ban is Smoke Box NG, a tobacco vendor that advertises tobacco products on social media with impunity.

“In 2021, Big Brother Naija, a popular reality TV show, hosted on the GOTV and DSTV platforms, sparked public outrage when its participants flagrantly smoked on live TV.

“This depiction of smoking as glamorous challenged the provisions of the NTC Act, 2015 on on-screen smoking. It also threatened the gains made on the ban on TAPS in Nigeria. When it happened, the tobacco control community called on the National Broadcasting Commission to act immediately.

“This year, as the programme is about to begin its 7th season, we are drawing the attention of NBC to proactively engage the organizers of the show to ensure that there is no repeat of last year’s violations.

“We wish to make it clear that should there be reluctance on the part of the regulators or the organisers to ensure a smoke-free programme, we will explore every available option in the interest of public health. It is important to note that entertainment products set the agenda for many young people because they are the eyes through which they see the world.

“We sound a note of caution to the organisers of BBN and a reminder of their responsibility towards the Nigerian population.

“At this time when Nigerians are hungry for quality leadership, a programme with such national reach must be used to portray high-standing role models for the Nigerian people.

“The National Film and Video Censors Board must live up to its responsibility of ensuring that all videos made and consumed in Nigeria strictly abide by the provisions of the NTC Act as it applies to the regulation of on-screen smoking and must see to the inclusion of text warnings or outright removal of needless on-screen smoking depictions.

“The National Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency must monitor, and sanction violators of the TAPS ban in the digital space.

“Finally, we charge all agencies of government tasked with the responsibility of enforcing the NTC Act and its Regulations to work together and ensure that the ban on direct and indirect tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship is comprehensively implemented in Nigeria in line with Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.”

June 17, 2021 Crowwe Applies For NBC Licence As Users Rise To 31, 245

Crowwe Applies For NBC Licence As Users Rise To 31, 245

Social media platform, Crowwe, has applied for a licence from the National Broadcasting Commission in line with the Federal Government’s new drive to register all social media platforms in the country.

This is just as the number of users has risen to 31,245.

The Chief Executive Officer of IPI, Mr. Adamu Garba, who created the social media app, said this during a chat with our correspondent on Thursday.

Garba said the Crowe app which was taken down by Google app store on Saturday, would return in a matter of days.

He added, “Crowwe now has 31,245 users with about 2, 270 business accounts. We have written a letter to the NBC applying for a licence in line with the Federal Government’s announcement but we have not yet received any response. If they don’t respond by Friday, we will send a second letter.”

On when Crowwe would return to the Google app store, Garba said, “There are some lapses. It consumes a lot of data based on user complaints so we decided to take up some opportunities to do that. We have edited. We will upload it by Saturday or so.”

Garba, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, also stated that his Instagram page which was suspended some days ago had been restored.

He said it was brought down because several people reported his page because they didn’t like him.

“So many people reported my Instagram page. It was disabled but it has been restored,” he said.

 

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