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Nigerian Guild of Editors Commends Federal High Court Over Perpetual Order Against NBC

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The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended the Federal High Court Abuja, over its order of perpetual injunctions restraining the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

Ruling on originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda against the NBC – as sole respondent in the suit, Justice James Omotosho, also set aside the N500, 000 fines imposed on March 1, 2019 on each of 45 broadcast stations.

The judge also held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations.

He further held that the Nigeria Broadcast Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law.

In a statement signed by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Wednesday, the Guild saluted the courage of the MRA – for testing the draconian NBC Act, saying the judgement has vindicated the position of the editors that NBC could not appropriate the constitutional responsibility of the judiciary arm of government.

‘’Justice Omotosho’s ruling on Wednesday vindicated our consistent position over the years that the NBC cannot be the accuser, the investigator and the judge on matters relating to alleged breach of the Broadcast Code.

‘’Our position has always been that an independent body or institution should be the one to examine any perceived infraction by the broadcast stations, which should be given the opportunity to defend themselves.

‘’The court is right in its ruling – by saying that it would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law’’, the Guild stated.

The court yesterday said that the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at the same time, the court and the judge on its own matter.

The judge agreed that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, being a subsidiary legislation that empowers an administrative body such as the NBC to enforce its provisions cannot confer judicial powers on the commission to impose criminal sanctions or penalties such as fines.

He also agreed that the commission, not being Nigerian police, had no power to conduct criminal investigation that would lead to criminal trial and imposition of sanctions.

“This will go against the doctrine of separation of powers”, he said.

Justice Omotosho held that what the doctrine sought to achieve was to prevent tyranny by concentrating too much powers in one organ.

The umbrella of all the editors in Nigeria reiterated its earlier resolution to engage the incoming government and other stakeholders over the NBC Act and the Broadcast Code of Conduct – with the aim to amend and reform them to conform to the global best practices.

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JUST IN: Kano Commissioner For Transportation Resigns Over Drug Allegations

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The Kano State Commissioner for Transportation, Ibrahim Namadi has resigned from his position following an allegation of his involvement in the controversial bail of a suspected drug baron, Sulaiman Danwawu.

According to reports, his resignation is coming just hours after the governor of the state, Abba Yusuf received the report of an investigative committee set up to probe his involvement in the deal.

‎In a statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, the Commissioner explained that his decision to resign was made in the overriding public interest and in the light of sensitive nature of the matter.‎

The Governor while accepting the resignation letter stressed the need for all political appointees to always reason with caution on sensitive matters and obtain permission from the higher authority anytime they are about to engage themselves on issues of public interest.‎‎

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BREAKING: MKO Abiola’s wife, Doyin Dies at 82

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Dr. Doyin Abiola, the first woman to become Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national daily in Nigeria, has died.

She passed away at 9:15pm on Tuesday, August 5, family sources confirmed.

She was 82.

Doyin, the widow of the late business mogul and politician Chief MKO Abiola, was a media powerhouse in her own right long before her name became linked to Nigeria’s most iconic democratic martyr.

She began her journalism journey in 1969 at the Daily Sketch, where her popular column “Tiro” tackled major societal issues including gender advocacy at a time when few dared.

In 1970, she left for the United States, bagged a master’s degree in journalism, and returned home to join Daily Times as a Features Writer.

There, she rose to become Group Features Editor, and later secured a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York in 1979.

On her return, she served on the Daily Times editorial board, where she worked alongside greats like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan.

But history would come calling when the National Concord, owned by MKO Abiola, appointed her as its pioneer daily editor.

She eventually became Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief in 1986, becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold such a top role at a national daily.

Her career at the National Concord spanned three decades, and she remained a towering figure in Nigeria’s media landscape.

Dr. Doyin Abiola and MKO Abiola got married in 1981, and she stood firm through the highs of journalism and the political storms that trailed her husband’s June 12 presidential mandate.

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LASG Orders Residents of Flooding Communities in Lekki, Ikorodu, Isheri, Ajegunle to ‘Move Now’

He reassured residents in other parts of Lagos such as Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja, which he described as generally safe.

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The Lagos State Government has issued a fresh warning to residents living in low-lying areas across Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to relocate immediately to higher ground, as more flooding is expected due to intensified rainfall this season.

The State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the order during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

The warning comes after parts of the state were severely flooded on Monday following marathon rainfall that began Sunday night and continued through the next day. Viral videos

He advised the affected communities to act now to avoid avoidable disasters as the rains intensify.

“Those around the Ajilete axis of Lagos, that’s Ajegunle, have to move,” Wahab said. “Those around the coastline of Ikorodu; Majidun, have to move. Some areas around the Lekki corridor too — not all.”

Wahab specifically mentioned Isheri in the OPIC area as another flood-prone location where residents should be on high alert.

He reassured residents in other parts of Lagos such as Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja, which he described as generally safe.

The warning comes after parts of the state were severely flooded on Monday following marathon rainfall that began Sunday night and continued through the next day. Viral videos

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