#EndSARS: SERAP, 261 Nigerians Ask Court To Quash NBC Fines Against Arise TV, Others

The Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says it has joined forces with 261 concerned Nigerians to urge the Federal High Court, Abuja, to quash a N9million fine imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) against some media platforms.

SERAP tweeted about this on Sunday.

Recall that the acting Director-General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, had last week announced the fine against Channels, AIT, and Arise TV.

NBC claimed that the media stations violated certain broadcasting codes in the coverage of the #EndSARS protests across the country.

But SERAP argued that the fine was targeted at suppressing media freedom in the country.

“Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), 261 concerned Nigerians, civil society and media groups have filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission [NBC] and Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, asking the court to declare arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional the N9m fines imposed on Channels, AIT and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests, and to stop the NBC from collecting the money.”

It added that they are seeking: “an order setting aside the arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional fines of N9 million and any other penal sanction unilaterally imposed by the NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed on Channels, AIT and Arise TV, and on any other radio/television stations simply for carrying out their professional and constitutional duties.”