Court Restrains Buhari, NBC From Shutting Down 53 Broadcast Stations

Court Restrains Buhari, NBC From Shutting Down 53 Broadcast Stations

An order has been given to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) stopping them from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country.

Recall that the NBC said it was shutting down the stations for allegedly failing to renew their licenses.

On Monday, Honourable Justice Akintayo Aluko (Court 8) of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

SERAP and NGE had last week filed a lawsuit against Buhari and NBC, asking the court for “a declaration that section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten to revoke the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and to shut down the stations is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression.”

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In the suit, SERAP and NGE had asked the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and NBC, their agents from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country and shutting their down operations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.”

The suit is adjourned to 8th September, 2022 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The suit followed the decision by the NBC to revoke the licenses of the 53 broadcast stations and shut down their operations within 24 hours over alleged N2.6 billion debt.

Court Stops Buhari, NBC From Shutting Down 53 Broadcast Stations                                                                                        
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