N5m Fine: Nigeria Info Can Sue NBC If Mailafia’s Allegations Are True – SAN

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has responded to the N5million fine slammed on Nigeria Info 99.3FM for airing a comment made by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia

Mailafia, had in one of the station’s programmes, claimed that he had credible information about terrorist activities in the country.

“Some of us also have our intelligence networks. I have met with some of the bandits; we have met with some of their high commanders – one or two who have repented – they have sat down with us not once, not twice.

“They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria,” he had said.

Following the development, the NBC fined the radio station for what it called “unprofessional broadcast.”

It stressed that the fine was to deter other media houses from reporting unverified claims.

Meanwhile, Emeka Ngige, SAN, in an interview with THE WHISTLER, said that if Nigeria Info knows that Mailafia’s comments are provable, then they should head to court to defend their constitutional right to keep the public informed.

But, he added that if NBC, as a regulatory body, is sure that Mailafia’s comments are untrue, then the fine on the radio station is lawful.

His statement reads: “My take is that if the allegations Dr. Mailafia made are false then the fines imposed by NBC on the FM station will be in order .

“It will not amount to gagging the press because the press is required to report correct and truthful facts not fabrications or speculations.

” But if the allegations are true and verifiable, then the punishment can be challenged in court by the radio station as a breach of its constitutional right to educate and inform the citizenry.”