Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked the Minister of Information
and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, to probe false posting on the ministry’s official
Twitter handle of court proceedings in a lawsuit against him and the National
Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
It
also asked A Federal High Court, Abuja to declare arbitrary, illegal, and
unconstitutional the N9 million fines imposed on Channels TV, AIT and Arise TV
over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests, and to stop the NBC from
collecting the money.
In
a statement on Sunday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the
Ministry of Information and Culture had after the court hearing last Friday
posted on its Twitter handle a story falsely claiming that the suit had been
dismissed.
“But
contrary to the report, the suit, which came up for hearing at the Federal High
Court [Court 10] Abuja, was adjourned to Wednesday, 10 March 2021 for the
hearing of SERAP’s originating summons and the preliminary objections filed by
the NBC and its Director-General, ” Oluwadare stated
According
to SERAP, “While there is a legitimate public interest in informing the public
about court proceedings, any such reporting ought to accurately reflect the
proceedings.
“It’s
deeply disappointing that the Ministry, which is yet to file any court process
in response to the suit, posted and promoted on its Twitter handle a story
claiming that the suit against it and the NBC had been struck out.”
SERAP
continued: “The posting on the Ministry’s Twitter handle threatens to impede or
prejudice the outcome of this case. For the sake of a fair administration of
justice, the rule of law, and consistency, we urge Mr Lai Mohammed to promptly
and thoroughly probe the false posting, and ensure that the story is
immediately removed from the Ministry’s Twitter handle and its other
platforms.”
According
to SERAP: “Freedom of expression and media freedom are a prerequisite to any
serious fight against corruption and impunity. We will continue to fight to
protect these fundamental freedoms.
“Cases
are won in court, and not on social media. We will see the NBC and Mr Lai
Mohammed in court in March 2021, equipped with the Nigerian Constitution 1999
[as amended] and international human rights law.”
Recall
that SERAP had in October filed two court papers in this suit; the first is a
motion exparte and motion on notice for an interim injunction to stop the NBC
from collecting the fines of N9 million on Channels TV, AIT, and Arise TV for
purported “unprofessional coverage” of the #EndSARS protests across the
country.
The
NBC and its Director-General stated in court on Friday that the fines have been
paid.
“As
a result, SERAP’s lawyer applied to withdraw the motion for interim injunction,
and on this basis, the court struck out both our motion exparte and motion on
notice, as well as the counter-affidavits and written addresses filed by the
NBC and its Director-General, in response to our interlocutory application,”
Oluwadare said.
He
continued, “The second court paper filed by SERAP is the originating summons
dated 30 October, 2020. This is the substantive suit challenging the legality
and constitutionality of imposition of fines on media houses by the NBC and Mr
Lai Mohammed. This suit still subsists.
“The
court has adjourned the suit to Wednesday, 10 March 2021 for the hearing of
SERAP’s originating summons and preliminary objections filed by the NBC and its
Director-General.”
“The
suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1436/2020, was filed by SERAP, 255 concerned Nigerians;
Premium Times Services Limited; Centre for Journalism Innovation and
Development; HEDA Resource Centre; International Centre for Investigative
Reporting; African Centre for Media and Information Literacy; and Media Rights
Agenda.”
(TODAY.NG)
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