Glamtush
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Glamtush
No Result
View All Result
Home News

NBC Code: SERAP Writes Buhari, Demands Withdrawal Of N5m Hate Speech Fine

byeditor
August 16, 2020
in News, Nigeria News
Reading Time: 6 mins read
SERAP
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedinShare on Telegram

NBC Code: SERAP Writes Buhari, Demands Withdrawal Of N5m Hate Speech Fine

 

READ ALSO

Win Big With AGII.NG! ‘Buy & Win’ & ‘Subscribe & Win’ Promos Offer Millions Weekly

BREAKING: NECO Releases 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination Results

 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to instruct the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw the 5million naira fine on hate speech.

In the letter, the commission asked President Buhari to direct the Information Minister and the NBC to immediately rescind the fine of N5m imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM radio station, following the reported comments by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia, during an interview with the station.

The NBC last week reportedly issued a stern warning to journalists and broadcast stations, stating that “To denigrate our governors, lawmakers, elders, and leaders in abusive terms is not our culture, we respect our leaders as a positive cultural value.

“The Commission may be compelled to impose sanctions where stations fail to curb this practice.”

SERAP in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “Rather than pushing to enforce a culture to respect president, governors, lawmakers, elders, and other leaders, the Information Minister and the NBC should use their entrusted public office and mandates to promote a culture of public debate, access to information, transparency and accountability in government.”

The organisation stated that nothing can be more destructive to people’s exercise of basic human rights, and to democratic politics than the suppression of the media, and media freedom, the alleged ‘cultural codes’, which Mr. Mohammed and NBC are now using to punish journalists, broadcast stations and other Nigerians are patently contrary to the public interests.

The statement explained that “implementation of the code and the memo would further deter meaningful citizens’ engagement, and have a chilling effect on Nigerians’ human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, undermine the idea of representative democracy, as well as make public officials less responsive to the people.”

The letter, a copy of which was sent to Mr. Lai Mohammed, read in part: “We would be grateful if the requested action and measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then that the measures have been taken, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you to do so in the public interest.”

“Our requests are entirely consistent and compatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), and the country’s international legal obligations, including under the UN Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which the country is a state party.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that the implementation of the code and the memo would lead to unjust punishment and self-censorship among journalists and the media, and exacerbate the growing level of impunity for attacks on media freedom.”

It said, “Self-censorship would undermine media freedom and the right to receive and impart information, public debate and further impair the ability of Nigerians to hold to account public officials and politicians accused of grand corruption.

“SERAP is concerned that the action by Mr. Mohammed and NBC has further undermined public trust in government and politicians, as it shows that public officials are taking for granted their entrusted public functions, and accountability to Nigerians.

“The speed at which the code and the memo have been issued and applied may lead to public suspicion that the authorities are deliberately pushing to undermine the ability of journalists and the media to report on public interest issues, such as the growing poverty, widespread violence and killings, poor quality education, poor infrastructure and lack of access of millions of Nigerians to basic public goods and services.”

According to SERAP, it “is concerned that rather than addressing these matters of public interest and revelations of massive allegations of corruption and mismanagement in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), your government is devoting time and energy to stop the media and journalists from reporting on the issues.

“Transparency would build trust and confidence in the government. The public interest in transparency and public monitoring of the use and management of the country’s natural wealth and resources by politicians outweighs any perceived cultural injunctions of ‘respect for Presidents, governors, lawmakers, and other leaders.

“Transparency will mean little without media freedom, which is important to shine a light into government activities and bring matters to the attention of the public. Public debate and access to information would promote a culture of transparency, and accountability, which in turn would facilitate Nigerians’ right to participate in their own government.

“In a truly representative democracy that Nigeria is striving to become, those who venture into public life, whether in the capacity of president, governor, or lawmakers, must expect to have their constitutional and public functions subjected to scrutiny and public discussion.

“By allowing journalists and the media to freely and independently perform their roles of informing the public, Nigerians will be able to monitor and keep politicians on a tighter leash, which will contribute to good government.

“The code and the memo are illegal, unconstitutional and amount to a misuse of public office insofar as they blatantly fail to follow due process of law, meet basic constitutional and international fair trial standards, and a strict three-part test of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”

“According to the UN Human Rights Committee, the free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”

According to SERAP, “the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly held that freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society. It is applicable not only to information or ideas that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference but also to those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population.

“The NBC on Thursday 13 August 2020 reportedly sent a ‘memo’ to journalists and broadcasters threatening to ‘sanction and punish them if they violate a culture stopping them from denigrating, disrespecting, insulting, and abusing president, governors, lawmakers, and other elders and leaders in authority.

“In the memo reportedly signed by Mr. Chibuike Ogwumike, Zonal Director of the NBC Lagos office, the NBC cited the provisions of the Broadcasting Code: Section 3.1, Professional Rules: 3.1.1, and Broadcasting Code: 3.1.19 to justify the existence of such culture to respect public officials and other elders and leaders in authority in the country.”

SERAP, therefore, urges President Buhari to urgently:

  1. Instruct Lai Mohammed and the NBC to immediately withdraw the code and memo to journalists and broadcasters threatening to sanction and punish them on the basis of cultural codes prohibiting them from denigrating, disrespecting, insulting and abusing president, governors, lawmakers, and other elders and leaders in authority;

  2. Instruct Lai Mohammed and the NBC to immediately rescind the apparently illegal fine of N5m imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM radio station;

  3. Propose and promote rules and codes that would ensure a culture of public accountability, prevent grand corruption, curtail abuse of power by public officials and politicians, as well as improve a democratic relationship and engagement between citizens and the government;

  4. Publicly commit to enforcing constitutional and international human rights of journalists and the media and all Nigerians, and to faithfully fulfill your constitutional oath of office;

  5. Publicly commit to restoring public trust in government, and to respect and protect the constitutional rights of journalists and the media to report on allegations of corruption and other socio-economic challenges confronting the country.

Related Posts

agii.ng
News

Win Big With AGII.NG! ‘Buy & Win’ & ‘Subscribe & Win’ Promos Offer Millions Weekly

July 11, 2025
2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination
Education

BREAKING: NECO Releases 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination Results

July 9, 2025
2025 Admissions
Education

JAMB Sets 150 Benchmark For 2025 Admissions

July 9, 2025
MultiChoice Fined ₦766m
News

MultiChoice Fined ₦766m By FG For Privacy Breaches

July 7, 2025
Ladoja
News

Drummers Move To Ladoja’s Home, Signaling Next Olubadan

July 7, 2025
Olubadan
News

How Primate Ayodele Foretold Olubadan’s Demise Two Days Ago In WTN 2025/2026

July 7, 2025
Next Post
Airport Officials

FAAN To Passengers: Report Airport Officials Demanding Money

LATEST COVER

Priscilla Ojo

GPBN Associates Member

Fidelity Bank

Zenith Bank

Headwraps

Timeless Beauty: The Power Of Headwraps

July 12, 2025
Open Heaven 12 July 2025

Open Heaven 12 July 2025: A Simple Prayer

July 12, 2025
WAFCON

WAFCON: Super Falcons Secure $200,000 For Quarter-Final Qualification

July 12, 2025
Galatasaray Bid For Osimhen

Napoli Rejects New €70M Galatasaray Bid For Osimhen

July 12, 2025
Empowering Women

Empowering Women At Work: How Union Bank’s Family-Friendly Revolution Is Setting New Standards

July 11, 2025
agii.ng

Win Big With AGII.NG! ‘Buy & Win’ & ‘Subscribe & Win’ Promos Offer Millions Weekly

July 11, 2025
Empowering Women

Union Bank Responds To High Court Ruling On NICON Investments Limited, Global Fleet And Jimoh Ibrahim Case

July 9, 2025
2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination

BREAKING: NECO Releases 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination Results

July 9, 2025
ASIS

The Alternative Bank Champions Bold Action For Africa’s Future Ahead Of ASIS 2025 Summit

July 9, 2025
MaWhoo

MaWhoo Takes Her Throne As Spotify EQUAL Africa Ambassador For July

July 9, 2025

GLAMTUSH

 

Glamtush publishes the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, as well as those making the fashion world interesting and adorable.

RELEVANT PAGES

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

REACH OUT

Do you have any news for us? Event Coverage, Press Releases or Adverts? Then reach out to us via glamtush@gmail.com or glamtush15@gmail.com

OFFICE ADDRESS

Lagos, Nigeria

Copyright © 2022 Glamtush

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Glamtush – Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Naija News
  • Glamtush – Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Naija News
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Write for Us

© 2022 Glamtush

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events

© 2022 Glamtush