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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 Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has clarified reports circulating about an increase in the monthly upkeep allowance for student beneficiaries, describing such claims as inaccurate.
According to the Fund, the officially approved monthly upkeep allowance remains ₦20,000, not ₦25,000 as widely reported in some quarters.
NELFUND urged students and the general public to disregard any misleading information and rely solely on its verified communication channels for updates and announcements.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and delivering student-centered financial support across the country, urging students seeking further clarification or assistance to contact NELFUND via its official email and social media platforms for prompt and accurate responses.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a fresh round of strategic appointments, naming Senator Ibrahim Ida as Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and nominating seven new Federal Commissioners for the National Population Commission (NPC).
In a statement by the Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Senator Ida, a former lawmaker who represented Katsina Central in the Senate, holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and a Law degree from the University of Abuja.
His career spans roles as Commissioner of Finance in Katsina State and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.
According to the statement, the NPC nominees include Kolawole Oladipupo Alabi for Ekiti, Nasiru Mu’azu for Zamfara, and Usman Abubakar Tuggar for Bauchi State.
Also nominated are Dr Isiaka Alada Yahaya representing Kwara, Professor Sadiq Isah Radda for Katsina, Suleiman Umar for Jigawa, and Honourable Chiso Abdullahi Dattijo for Sokoto State.
Their appointments are subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.In a related development, President Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Bala Mohammed Bello as Special Adviser on Political Economy. Bello, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, previously served as Executive Director at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank.
Meanwhile, Dr Yusuf Mohammed from Kano State has been appointed Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.
The President expressed confidence that all appointees will effectively deliver on their mandates and contribute to improving the quality of life for Nigerians.
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Just in: Tuggar resigns as Foreign Minister
Tuggar submitted his resignation letter to the President in preparation to contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to pursue the Bauchi State governorship in the 2027 elections.
The Ministry confirmed the resignation on Monday through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
Tuggar submitted his resignation letter to the President in preparation to contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
Tuggar’s resignation comes following a presidential directive issued earlier in March.
The order, communicated through the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, required all political appointees seeking elective positions to resign by March 31, 2026.
The directive applies to ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants, and heads of federal agencies.
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