News
Nigerian Guild of Editors Commends Federal High Court Over Perpetual Order Against NBC
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.
News
Miscreants Attack Lekki Palm Estate
Residents have called on relevant authorities to swiftly address the matter and ensure the continued safety of lives and property within the estate.
Tension gripped Lekki Palm Estate on Thursday morning following an attack by a group of suspected miscreants who claimed they were acting on the directives of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and Oba Olumegbo.
Eyewitnesses said that the individuals stormed the estate and invoked the monarchs name while carrying out their actions, a development that immediately caused panic and concern among residents.
As at the time of filing this report, the claim that the group was sent by the Oba’s could not be independently verified.
Efforts to obtain clarification from official palace sources were still ongoing.
The situation attracted the prompt response of security operatives, with officers of the Lagos State Police Command arrested some of the suspects.
Police authorities have since launched investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the authenticity of the claims made by those involved.
Residents have called on relevant authorities to swiftly address the matter and ensure the continued safety of lives and property within the estate.
News
Rivers Chief Judge : “Why I Can’t set up Fubara ‘s probe panel”
The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested that Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has declined to set up a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing a court order.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested that Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
However, in a letter dated January 20, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge cited two court orders barring him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any requests to form such a panel.
The judge stated that the orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026 and remain in force.
The chief judge emphasised that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to obey subsisting court orders, irrespective of their perception of the orders’ validity.
He referenced legal precedents, noting that in a similar case in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel, a decision later voided by the Court of Appeal
News
Kudirat Abiola’s Murder: Supreme Court Dismisses Lagos State Appeal for Retrial of Al-Mustapha
Justice Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, emphasized that nine years was more than sufficient for Lagos to act.
• Kudirat Abiola in 1994.
The Supreme Court has dismissed the long-standing attempt by the Lagos State Government to reopen the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief MKO Abiola—the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election—was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, during the nationwide unrest that followed the annulment.
On Thursday, 22 January 2026, a five-member panel of Justices led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji ruled that Lagos had abandoned its appeal.
The Court noted that since 2014, when permission was granted to reopen the case, the state had failed to file any process or provide legal representation despite repeated hearing notices.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Paul Daudu, representing Al-Mustapha, informed the Court that Lagos had ignored the 30-day ultimatum issued in 2014 to file its notice of appeal.
He urged the Court to dismiss the matter entirely, a position the Justices unanimously upheld.
Justice Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, emphasized that nine years was more than sufficient for Lagos to act.
The Court expressed dismay that no steps were taken, describing the state’s conduct as a clear abandonment of the case.
Accordingly, the matter marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed, along with another related appeal, SC/CR/6/2014, filed by the Lagos State Government.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had granted Lagos permission to challenge the Court of Appeal’s July 12, 2013 judgment, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha.
The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, extended the time for Lagos to file its appeal, but the state failed to comply.
The Lagos Government had sought to overturn the appellate court’s decision and reinstate the January 30, 2012 death sentence handed down by Justice Moji Dada of the Lagos High Court, which convicted Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha, and Lateef Shofolahan of conspiracy and murder.
Miscreants Attack Lekki Palm Estate
Rivers Chief Judge : “Why I Can’t set up Fubara ‘s probe panel”
Kudirat Abiola’s Murder: Supreme Court Dismisses Lagos State Appeal for Retrial of Al-Mustapha
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