A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled against the provisions that grant the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) the authority to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged violations of its broadcasting code.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Communications Officer for Media Rights Agenda (MRA), IDOWU ADEWALE.

MRA, a non-governmental organization, sued NBC for the imposition of 5 million naira fines on Trust Television, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Telcom Satellite Limited, and StarTimes Limited for airing a documentary on banditry in Zamfara State in 2020.

MRA, in the lawsuit filed by its lawyer, UCHE AMULU, requested the court to invalidate the fine and challenged the authority of NBC to impose sanctions.

The NGO argued that NBC lacks the necessary independence and impartiality to impose fines on broadcast stations as punishment or penalties, as it is not a court of law and has not been constituted in a manner to secure these qualities.

The presiding judge, Justice RITA OFILI-AJUMOGOBIA, delivered a judgment stating that the NBC is not allowed to have administrative, legislative, and judicial powers simultaneously.

In her ruling, Justice OFILI-AJUMOGOBIA also set aside the fines imposed by NBC on the television station and three pay TV platforms.