The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has faulted the decision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission Commission (NBC) to sanction three broadcast stations.
Abaribe, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said the commission’s decision ran foul of the country’s constitution.
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“The sanction is illegal, provocative and clear case of willful abuse of power and a deliberate assault on the freedom of the press and of free speech.
“This time, as precarious as we know, calls for deep introspection and empathy for victims and their families.
“It is not a time for this kind of illegal actions by the agencies of government, as no law passed by the National Assembly nor the Constitution gives the NBC powers to impose such sanctions,” he said.
Abaribe urged the NBC to stop abridging the right of Nigerians to free speech and refrain from arbitrary enforcement of laws it does not have.
He also advised the three broadcast stations to approach the court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights in the circumstance.
NBC had slammed N3m fine each on AIT, Channels and Arise TV on the basis that they violated the broadcasting code during the #Endsars protest, particularly the alleged shooting of protesters in Lekki toll gate.
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