Broadcasting Code: Court Upholds Verdict Stopping NBC From Imposing Fines On Stations
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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused a motion by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) seeking an order to set aside its judgement restraining the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country based on the provisions of the NBC Broadcasting Code.
The court presided by Justice James Omotosho dismissed all the grounds put forward by the NBC, describing same as an afterthought.
In the ruling, Justice Omotosho held that despite being served with the originating process and hearing notices in the case leading to the judgment, the commission failed to file its defence.
The judge said contrary to the NBC’s argument that it was not served with court processes that led to the judgement, the court file showed that services were effected on NBC but failed to file and refused to entered appearance.
The court observed that there was an Affidavit Of Facts deposed to by the court bailiff confirming that court processes were served on the commission on different occasions.
“The respondent applicant cannot claim it was not serve. The objection is hereby overruled,” Justice Omotosho said.
The court had on May 10, 2023 gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations.
The Judge also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed by the commission on March 1, 2019 on each of the 45 broadcast stations alleged to have violated its broadcasting code.
He held that NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations.
Justice Omotosho further held that the NBC Broadcasting Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanctions, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution which vested judicial power in the court of law.
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