By Abdulateeef Bamgbose
Board of Trustees, BoT, Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association, NBMOA, has initiated legal action against Arewa 24 Limited and seven others.
The suit, which is scheduled for hearing before Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, named the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC; Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation; Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON; Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, FCCPC; MIPAN, MultiChoice, StarTimes, and ADVAN as defendants.
In a statement yesterday, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, NBMOA, Dr Ahmed Ramalan said the unlicensed broadcasting activities of the defendants threaten the established legal and competitive media landscape, adversely affecting media owners and audiences across Nigeria.
NBMOA emphasised the association’s dedication to uphold lawful broadcasting standards.
Ramalan said, “Our objective is to ensure a fair and regulated media environment, in line with established broadcasting standards, while maintaining a commitment to the rule of law.”
NBMOA indicated that it would not issue further comments until court proceedings have been concluded, emphasising the need to respect the legal process in the interest of justice and transparency.
The outcome of the hearing will be closely monitored by stakeholders in the broadcast industry, as it may have significant implications for Nigeria’s broadcasting and media regulation framework.
