Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his approval of the Federal High Court’s recent verdict declaring null and void the actions of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Atiku, in a press statement released by his media office on Thursday, commended the court’s decision, stating that it upholds the constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech.
According to Atiku, the ruling against NBC’s dictatorial practices is a significant step in ensuring that the media in Nigeria is not stifled, allowing citizens to fully exercise their rights to freedom of expression. He praised the court for its bold decision and emphasized the importance of the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) for challenging what he referred to as draconian practices by the regulatory body.
In the statement, Atiku expressed his happiness with the court’s judgment, stating that it not only supports democratic norms but also enhances the ethos of free speech within the nation’s political landscape. The former vice president acknowledged the courage displayed by the MRA in challenging the regulatory body’s actions.
The legal issue arose when the National Broadcasting Commission imposed a fine of N5 million on certain media outlets for airing a documentary that depicted the precarious state of insecurity in Nigeria in the year 2022. The court’s ruling declared these fines null and void, signalling a victory for media freedom and free speech rights in the country.