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Appeal Court Knocks Out NBC’s Bid To Revive Broadcast Fines
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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) latest attempt to overturn a Federal High Court judgment restraining it from imposing fines on radio and television stations, handing the broadcast regulator another significant judicial defeat.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, the appellate court ruled that the NBC’s appeal was fundamentally defective and incompetent, holding that it lacked the legal foundation required for the court to exercise jurisdiction.
Justice Jane Inyang, who delivered the lead judgment, identified a fatal discrepancy in the identity of the appellant. While the original suit at the Federal High Court was between the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda and the National Broadcasting Commission, the notice of appeal was filed in the name of the “Nigerian Broadcasting Commission” – an entirely different legal entity.
According to the court, the inconsistency rendered the appeal incurably defective.
“The notice of appeal and the accompanying briefs are fundamentally defective and do not and cannot confer jurisdiction on this court to hear and determine the appeal,” Justice Inyang ruled.
The court stressed that a valid notice of appeal is the bedrock of appellate proceedings and a mandatory condition for invoking its jurisdiction. It consequently held that there was “no appeal in fact and in law” before it and struck out the case for incompetence.
The appeal arose from the January 17, 2024 judgment of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, who held that the NBC acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally by imposing N5 million fines on MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (DStv), TelCom Satellite Limited (TStv), Trust TV Network Limited and NTA StarTimes Limited over documentaries on banditry and insecurity in Zamfara State.
The commission had argued that the broadcasts threatened national security, but the trial court ruled that the sanctions violated the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects the right to receive and disseminate information without undue interference.
Wednesday’s verdict marks yet another courtroom setback for the NBC in its prolonged legal battle over its sanctioning powers.
In April 2026, the Court of Appeal also dismissed another appeal filed by the commission against the May 10, 2023 judgment of Justice James Omotosho, which held that monetary fines are criminal sanctions that can only be imposed by a court of law and not by an administrative agency. The appellate court had earlier rejected the NBC’s attempt to set aside that judgment in November 2023.
The latest decision further entrenches judicial limits on the NBC’s authority, reinforcing the position that broadcast organisations cannot be subjected to monetary penalties by the regulator without due judicial process.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Aliyu Wadada has promised to revive the committee’s activities after acknowledging concerns over its prolonged inactivity.
Wadada spoke on Thursday at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja.
Specifically, the chairman admitted that the committee had been underutilised, noting that it had met only once in the last three years.
He, however, said issues responsible for the situation had been identified during a closed-door session and would be addressed.
“Of course I feel concerned about it, but when we got into the details in a closed-door meeting, we got to know where the problems are, and they will all be taken care of. The committee will be as active as it should always be,” he said.
Commenting further, the chairman said the committee would focus on its core mandate of promoting and strengthening legislative relations between Nigeria’s National Assembly and parliamentary bodies across the world.
According to him, the committee will deepen engagement with regional and international legislative institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and other parliamentary organisations.
He disclosed that a new work plan had already been developed to guide the committee’s activities.
He added: “The direction is basically around the responsibilities of the committee, which is to promote and deepen legislative relationship within Nigeria and with other legislative bodies around the world”.
The chairman added that the committee’s first major activity would be a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
SINL NIgeria Online reports that Senator Wadada assured that the public would be kept informed of the committee’s activities as the new work plan is implemented.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers has increased to N100,000 after the Federal Government reviewed their welfare package.
Musa made the disclosure during an interview with News Central ahead of his appearance on the NC Exclusive programme.
He said the adjustment was part of efforts by the government to improve the living conditions of military personnel.
Executive Branch
The former Chief of Defence Staff, however, said the country’s defence sector still requires more funding despite the improvement in soldiers’ earnings and welfare.
He stated that the current defence budget remains inadequate, adding that more resources are needed to effectively support the armed forces and their operations.
Musa explained that soldiers who previously earned about N49,000 monthly now receive at least N100,000 following the salary review carried out by the government.
The minister also called for tougher punishment for kidnappers, saying stronger measures are needed to reduce the increasing cases of abduction across Nigeria.
Remodelled Abuja City Gate To Be Commissioned Today, Thursday, July 9
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Senator Wadada promises to deepen legislative ties, stop inactivity
Just in: FG jerks up salaries soldiers to N100k monthly
DAY 22 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
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