Business

Federal High Court bars NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations in Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

May 10, 2023

319 Views

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from imposing fines, henceforth, on broadcast stations in the country.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgement, also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed, on March 1, 2019, on each of the 45 broadcast stations.
Justice Omotosho 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 NBC 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.
He said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law.
He 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.
Omotosho held that what the doctrine sought to achieve was to prevent tyranny by concentrating too much powers in one organ.
“The action of the respondent qualifies as excessiveness” as it had ascribed to itself the judicial and executive powers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBC had, on March 1, 2019, imposed the sum of N500, 000 each on 45 broadcast stations in the country over alleged violation of its code.
However, the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda had, in an originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, sued the NBC as sole respondent in the suit.
In the motion dated Nov. 9, 2021 by its lawyer, Noah Ajare, the group sought a declaration that the sanctions procedure applied by the NBC in imposing N500,00Q fines on each of the 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019 was a violation of the rules of natural justice.
The lawyer also said that the fines were in violation of the right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap AQ) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The group argued that this was so because the code, which created the alleged offences of which the broadcast stations were accused was written and adopted by the NBC, “and also gives powers to the said commission to receive complaints of alleged breaches, investigate and adjudicate the complaints, impose sanctions, including fines, and ultimately collect the fines, which the commission uses for its own purposes.”
They, therefore, sought an order setting aside the N500,000 fines purportedly imposed by the NBC on each of the 45 broadcast stations on Friday, March 1, 2019.
They also sought “an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the respondent, its servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting for or on its behalf, from imposing fines on any of the broadcast stations or any other broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.”
Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho decsribed the NBC’s act as being ultra vires.
He held that the fines imposed by the NBC as punishment for commission of various offences under its code were contrary to the law and hereby declared as unconstitutional, null and void.
The judge also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission from further imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

Courtesy: (NAN)

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Business

TMBC Business Publisher says MPC rate cut is timely, appropriate MPC

Published

2 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Charles Flames

7 Views

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Publisher of The TMBC Business, Mr Tony Monye, has commended the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria for reducing the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis points to 26.5 per cent from 27.0 per cent.

Monye made this known in Lagos on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the committee’s decision to begin a gradual monetary loosening was timely and appropriate, given the improving macroeconomic conditions.

NAN reports that the MPC, at its latest meeting, lowered the benchmark interest rate by 0.50 percentage points, citing sustained dis-inflation and improving economic fundamentals.

Monye described the move as a cautious and responsive approach needed to consolidate recent gains in price stability.

“I doubt there are sane economic players out there that aren’t applauding the members of the MPC.“The system needs this sort of decision at this time. So, members of the committee should be commended,” he said.

Monye noted that recent policy measures by government had helped align key price indicators in the economy, including inflation, exchange rate and interest rate, towards planned targets.

According to him, inflation has maintained a steady month-on-month decline, while the naira has continued to strengthen in the foreign exchange market.

He added that interest rates had remained relatively stable, creating a more predictable environment for investors and other economic agents.

“With policies, appropriateness should be accompanied by right timing buoyed by the right level of implementation,” Monye said, in support of the MPC’s gradual easing stance.

He expressed optimism that the measured rate cut would support investment and economic expansion without undermining price stability.

NAN further reports that The TMBC Business, a monthly non-street journal, aimed at select C-suite executives and online readers, will celebrate its second anniversary in April.

Monye said the anniversary would be commemorated with a series of programmes, including a seminar to be anchored by seasoned experts in the corporate communications community.

Business

Iran-US-Israel war Drives Dangote Refinery’s PMS to N874

Several depot owners suspended PMS sales because of the crude rally. The market is already factoring in risk premiums. Nobody wants to sell below replacement cost,” a downstream operator was quoted as saying.

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

OCHEFA

14 Views

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reviewed the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price by N100, bringing the ex-depot rate to N874 per litre from the previous N774, as international crude oil prices surged past $80 per barrel due to the ongoing U.S – Israeli war against Iran.

A senior refinery official who confirmed the adjustment on Monday, said that the price has been reviewed.

” The new gantry price is now N874 per litre, up from N774. The revision became necessary due to changes in global crude fundamentals and replacement costs,” the official said.

Checks on petroleumprice.ng indicate that the new pricing has already been implemented, signaling a shift in downstream benchmarks that will likely affect petrol retail prices across the country.

The price hike followed the refinery’s suspension of petrol loading operations, effective midnight on March 2, 2026.

Industry data showed that PMS loading and issuance of proforma invoices were temporarily halted, although the suspension applied only to petrol, while Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) continued to load uninterrupted.

The refinery’s move triggered a ripple effect across Nigeria’s downstream sector, with several private depot owners halting petrol sales during the trading day.

“Several depot owners suspended PMS sales because of the crude rally. The market is already factoring in risk premiums. Nobody wants to sell below replacement cost,” a downstream operator was quoted as saying.

Business

Global Links and Services Ltd adds Namibia to its Tourism Packages

Tony Onwuchekwa, the company’s Group Director of Communications, who disclosed this, and advocates for policy changes to ease intra-African travel.

Published

2 days ago

February 28, 2026

OCHEFA

56 Views

• Tony Onwuchekwa, Group Director of Communications

Global Links and Services Ltd (operating as Global Links Travel & Tours), a fully licensed IATA Travel Agency based in Nigeria, says that it’s poised to integrate Namibia into its tours and pilgrimage offerings.

Tony Onwuchekwa, the company’s Group Director of Communications, who disclosed this, and advocates for policy changes to ease intra-African travel.

Onwuchekwa said that the motivation to add Namibia to its travel destinations package was ignited by it’s participation in the just ended Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and South African Airways (SAA) B2B Stakeholders Meeting in Windhoek.

He emphasised that with over 20 years of experience in crafting seamless travel experiences across Nigeria and beyond, Global Links and Services Ltd is poised to advance intra-Africa tourism, experiential travel, and investment opportunities in Namibia, aligning with its mission to transform travel dreams into reality through expertly curated itineraries, flights, tours, hotels, transfers, study abroad services, and faith-based pilgrimages.

According to him, the company has gained firsthand insights to develop authentic, budget-friendly packages that highlight Namibia’s cultural heritage, wildlife, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) potential.

“Global Links is committed to bridging Africa’s tourism gaps through strategic collaborations and immersive experiences,” said Tony Onwuchekwa.

“This event aligns perfectly with our vision of linking clients to the world’s wonders, and going forward, we’ll leverage our expertise in promoting African destinations to position Namibia as a must-visit hub for bleisure and adventure travellers,” he said.