Activist lawyer, Femi Falana has declared that the sum of N5 million imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, by the National Broadcasting Commission is illegal.
To justify its action, the NBC had accused the broadcasting station of providing its platform on August 10, 2020, “for a guest, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder.” He further stated: “assuming that the Code was properly amended the Board cannot charge a suspect with criminal offences, prosecute, convict and impose a fine on him.”
“So why was the NBC in a hurry to violate the fundamental right of the broadcasting station to fair hearing? ” he asked.He argued: “section 33 of the Constitution provides that anyone charged with a criminal offence shall be tried before a competent court or tribunal. Only a competent court of law is empowered to try, convict and impose a fine on a criminal suspect after a trial has been conducted before a competent court.