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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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Alcohol Manufacturers Seek Tinubu’s Intervention as Tension Persists with NAFDAC

“We are not criminals. We are workers. We are producers. We are taxpayers. We are Nigerians.”

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SACHETS alcohol manufacturers have again confronted the NAFDAC Lagos Office demanding that the agency reopen their sealed warehouses, indigenous factories and depots across the country.

Chanting “No Work for Us, No Work for You”, and “We are not criminals. We are workers. We are producers. We are taxpayers. We are Nigerians ,” the workers accused the agency, under the leadership of Mojisola Adeyeye, of shutting down entire manufacturing facilities instead of applying what the union termed “controlled and targeted regulation.”

They called for urgent intervention from Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate, the House of Representatives, governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society groups.

During the protest on Wednesday, Comrade Anthony Oyaga, Secretary of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB), described the situation as one marked by “deep pain, growing fear, and a heavy sense of injustice.

According to the FOBTOB, multiple facilities producing sachet products and 10cl PET bottled beverages have been sealed nationwide, including warehouses containing other lawful products unrelated to the targeted items.

“This is not regulation; this is calculated economic suffocation,” said the union, adding that factories are not just buildings; they are ecosystems.”

The statement emphasised, listing transporters, raw material suppliers, distributors, retailers, market women, warehouse operators, artisans, and logistics workers as part of the affected chain.

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Senate demands sack of CAC boss, over defiance of summons

…The CAC head had never personally appeared before the committee, often citing official engagements or foreign trips as reasons for his absence.

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The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday called on President Bola Tinubu to sack Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), over what the lawmakers described as his persistent refusal to honour invitations to appear before the panel.

The committee made the recommendation citing Magaji’s repeated absence from its sessions, where he was expected to provide explanations on the commission’s revenue profile and operational performance since he took over the office.

The lawmakers noted that despite several summons, the CAC boss has consistently failed to show up in person.

Sani Musa, the Committee Chairman, announced the resolution during a budget defence session attended by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who appeared before the panel to present their proposals for the 2026 fiscal year.

Other chief executives under the committee’s supervision, including representatives of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Tax Ombudsman Office, the Nigerian Customs Service and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation were present at the hearing.

However, the CAC Registrar-General did not attend and instead delegated a subordinate officer to represent the commission.

The recommendation for Magaji’s removal was moved by Orji Kalu, representing Abia North.

The former Abia State governor expressed frustration over what he described as the registrar-general’s consistent disregard for the committee’s invitations.

Kalu argued that if cabinet ministers, who occupy higher constitutional offices, could respond to legislative summons, there was no justification for the CAC chief to repeatedly decline appearances.

“This man is not above the law,” Kalu said during the session.

“The ministers of finance and budget are here because we invited them. Yet this registrar-general believes he is bigger than the Senate. That cannot continue.”

He further said that since his return to the Senate, the CAC head had never personally appeared before the committee, often citing official engagements or foreign trips as reasons for his absence.

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Oluremi Tinubu Bags Warri Traditional Title ‘Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom’

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose mother hails from Warri in Delta State was conferred with the traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom alias Ugbone meaning the Light of God.

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has been conferred with the title, Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom, by Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

Busola Kukoyi, SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that the title was conferred on the First Lady during her homecoming to Warri Kingdom in Delta State where she was received by the paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atunwatse III in his remarks urged everyone that by doing away with past hurts and grievances, there would be peace, progress and prosperity.

The monarch stated that the entire kingdom is proud of the First Lady of Nigeria.

He said:

“We are proud of who you are, who you have become.

Our women know how to take very good care of their husbands. Thank you for being a very good example to our girls and women”.

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose mother hails from Warri in Delta State was conferred with the traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom alias Ugbone meaning the Light of God.

In Picture: L-R Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, First Lady of Delta State Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atunwatse III, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during Senator Tinubu’s conferment with the title,Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom by the Olu of Warri Kingdom on Thursday 26th February 2026.

In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called for more unity across the nation among citizens

The First Lady specifically appealed to the people of the kingdom to come together, irrespective of their differences.“the bible tells us in Psalm 133 verse 1 to 3 that it is pleasant to dwell together in unity, for there is where God commanded blessings”.

She assured the people who turned out in their numbers of continued support and commitment of government, noting that the state governor had been doing a good job so far in the State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu once again, on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI donated a sum of fifty million naira to 1000 women petty traders.

Earlier, the State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori explained that the First Lady who had visited the state three times, and twice when he was still in another political party and now when he had crossed over to APC, had shown tremendous love and sincerity in the care of Nigerians by this.“

She has a large heart and those visits where she flagged off the women petty traders empowerment and the launch of the free to shine campaign encouraged me to make up my mind.

May God continue to empower you to continue to put smiles on the faces of more Nigerians.”

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