Court stops Buhari, NBC from shutting 53 broadcast stations over alleged failure to renew licenses

Ayodele Olalere

Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, granted the prayers of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), urging it to stop President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country, and shutting down the stations for alleged failure  to renew their licenses.

In a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Director, SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, and General. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the General Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, the judge was quoted to have granted the order of interim injunction filed by the respondents after hearing the  argument of counsels to SERAP)and NGE, on Motion Ex-Parte filed.

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It is recalled that NBC had announced the ban on the  53 stations, prompting SERAP and NGE to drag  Buhari and NBC to court for “a declaration that Section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten to revoke the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and to shut down the stations is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression.”

It urged the court to give “an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and NBC, their agents from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country and shutting their down operations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.”

The suit is adjourned till September 8, 2022, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.