WAMELA Threatens Legal Action against FG, NBC over Channels TV Suspension

By Alex Enumah

The West Africa Media Lawyers Association (WAMELA) has threatened to drag the federal government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to court if they refuse to reverse the suspension of Channels Television.

WAMELA, in a statement to journalists on Tuesday, said the government in addition should reverse the associated fines for being illegal, unconstitutional and an attempt to control the Nigerian media.

The NBC had on Monday suspended Channels TV with a N5 million fine over its 7pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, April 25, 2021, where the TV station spoke with one Emma Powerful, the spokesman for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The NBC claimed to have acted pursuant to section 3.11.1 (b) and 5.4.3 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code which states as follows: The broadcaster shall ensure that no programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of the constituted authority or compromises the unity of corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state.

“Section 5.4.3: In reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy and neutrality.’’

Reacting, WAMELA said the action of the NBC clearly reveals that the Nigerian Government is at war with the media.

In the statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, the group said it is “quite unfortunate that this government is a democratically elected government, which is bound to abide strictly to the tenets of democracy.

“The suspension of Channels TV by Professor Armstrong Idachaba-led NBC is both undemocratic and unconstitutional. More worrying is that it carries with it an unpleasant hint of press repression. Moreso, it is public knowledge that a broadcast station cannot be liable for the views expressed by a guest, unless the station adopts the position of the guest. Clearly, the latter was not the case”.

The group added that the suspension is a clear breach of the right of Nigerians’ freedom of information as provided by the constitution.

While claiming that the suspension was aimed at gagging, suppressing, oppressing and repressing the press from performing its duties of keeping Nigerians informed in order to ensure accountability and transparency, WAMELA argued that since the code invoked by the NBC is in conflict with the provisions of the constitution, “the suspension cannot stand because it is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution”.

“We state unequivocally that the Nigerian citizenry have a right to know and to be promptly informed, and an attempt to gag the media is unacceptable and we urge the federal government to urgently recall its decision in the interest of justice and for the protection of our hard-won democracy.

“The federal government and NBC are advised as follows: To immediately reverse the suspension of Channels TV and all associated fines.

“The Minister of Information should ensure that the unwarranted suspension is lifted to demonstrate his commitment to press freedom.

“In the event that the directive is not reversed, we will be left with no option but to approach the court to seek appropriate and relevant reliefs against the federal government and NBC,” the statement added.