A
Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday ordered the Nigerian
Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to re-open African Independent Television
(AIT) and Ray Power FM.
The NBC had on Thursday shutdown the two stations owned by Raymond
Dokpesi’s DAAR Communication indefinitely for violating its guidelines.
Ruling on the matter on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekpo ordered the
re-opening of the stations and ordered that parties in the case should
maintain the status quo.
The presiding judge adjourned the case to June 13 for the defendant to show cause why the order should not be granted.
The NBC had suspended the licences of the African AIT, and Ray Power
FM indefinitely, as its Director-General, Dr Modibbo Kawu, said on
Thursday in Abuja, that the stations committed offences, which included
the airing of a Presidential election documentary by the AIT, a matter
pending before a tribunal; the inability of the company to pay its fees,
the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the social media,” and
others.
NBC had similarly before the election shut down Joy FM in Jos for
violations of the broadcasting code. Last year, the NBC also shut down
Ekiti Radio/TV station when former governor Ayo Fayose used the stations
to broadcast fake election results.
-NAN