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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.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully recaptured a high-ranking commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abdulazeez Obadaki.
He is believed to be the mastermind behind the horrific mass shooting at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State, which took place on August 7, 2012.
This recapture marks a significant step in bringing those responsible for the tragedy to justice. The attack on the church, a deeply sorrowful event, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 19 worshippers, including the pastor, and left many others with varying degrees of injuries.
The DSS’s efforts to apprehend Obadaki demonstrate their commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Security sources disclosed that the suspected terrorist leader confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial centre jailbreak following his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.
According to the sources, after over three years of being on the run, DSS operatives in a, well-oiled intelligence operation recaptured Obadaki aka Bomboy, on Friday morning.
This arrest comes barely two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the 2022 Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.
During the February 2022 daylight bank robberies in Uromi, Edo State, which instilled widespread fear across the region, several policemen and bank customers were killed, while hundreds of millions of Naira was reportedly carted away.
The secret police has, of recent, been recording a chain of successes in the capture of terrorists and criminal elements across the nation, with its new leadership fast-tracking the trial of the arrested suspects.
News
Marwa To Serve As NDLEA Chairman Until 2031- Tinubu
Marwa, first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020.
•Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday renewed the reappointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term.
Marwa, first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020.
His renewed tenure will see him lead the NDLEA until 2031.
A former military governor of Lagos and Borno States, Marwa is an alumnus of the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973.
He has held several strategic positions, including brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade; Aide-de-Camp to then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma; academic registrar of the NDA; Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; and Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has issued a final mobilization directive to all its chapters nationwide, signaling readiness for an indefinite strike as its 21-day ultimatum to state governors expired today, Friday November 14.
The looming action which threatens to paralyze legislative operations across all State Houses of Assembly follows a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Bauchi State where it resolved to give State Governments a 21-day deadline, effective from October 24, to begin implementing the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) and financial autonomy for State Legislatures, as enshrined in Section 121(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
In an official directive on Friday, the National Secretariat of the Union express disappointment that despite “ample window for compliance, reports from the states indicate that most State Governments are yet to begin the implementation as directed.
PASAN, therefore, instructed its zonal leaders to prepare for full-scale action.
The directive ordered all National Vice Presidents to “immediately mobilize all Chapters within their respective zones for industrial action as soon as the ultimatum elapses.
This action is to ensure full enforcement of the NEC resolution and to press home demand for the implementation of CONLESS without further delay.
The Union has formally notified the National Assembly leadership of the expiration of the ultimatum and its readiness for strike.
BREAKING: DSS Recaptures Ansaru Terrorist Commander Linked to Church Massacre
Marwa To Serve As NDLEA Chairman Until 2031- Tinubu
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