The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over the threat to revoke the licenses of broadcast stations.
In the suit filed before a federal high court, in Lagos, SERAP asked the court to declare the NBC order as unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.
NBC had said it sanctioned 25 stations for contravening the NBC code during the February 25 presidential election
While SERAP is the plaintiff, Buhari, NBC, and Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture are the defendants..
SERAP’s Argument: SERAP is asking the court to determine whether the threats by NBC not inconsistent and in line with freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.
They stated ” is a travesty of justice to punish and threaten broadcast stations seeking to promote election integrity and citizens’ engagement and participation while allowing perpetrators of electoral violence and grave human rights violations to escape accountability for their alleged crimes.
“Rather than promptly investigating allegations of election-related violence and other infractions of the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution, and going after suspected perpetrators, the Nigerian government is scapegoating the media by targeting and punishing broadcast stations.
‘The use of NBC Act and Code, in this case, would open the door to arbitrariness and fundamentally restrict freedom of expression that is an integral part of the public order protected by the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”
Read Also : Oyo assembly confirms Subulade Yerima as Oyo state Chief Judge
Reliefs sought
“A Declaration that the sanctioning of some broadcast stations and threat by the NBC to revoke the licenses and shut down other stations for their lawful coverage of the general elections is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.
“An order of interim injunction restraining President Buhari, NBC, and Mr. Mohammed from threatening and sanctioning broadcast stations in the country simply for carrying out their constitutional duties, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.
