Mailafia: Femi Falana says NBC fine on radio station illegal

- Femi Falana has given a legal perspective to the NBC fine on a Lagos-based popular radio station

- The senior lawyer and activist said the fine slammed on Nigeria Info 99.3FM lacked the legal backing

- According to him, the code under which the media outfit was fined is still not yet in full force

Femi Falana, a leading legal luminary, has condemned the N5 million fine imposed on a Lagos-based radio station by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over alleged promotion of hate speech.

The fine was imposed on the radio station by the regulatory commission because it allegedly provided its platform to be used to promote unverifiably and inciting views.

Coming on the heels of a comment made by a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Obadiah Mailaifa, NBC said it was concerned with "the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, in the handling of the Programme, “Morning Cross Fire."

Femi Falana has given a legal perspective to the NBC fine on a Lagos-based popular radio station. Credit: The Cable.

Mailafia, while speaking on the radio on August 10, 2020, had claimed that a governor is contributing to the festering insecurity in the country by providing financial and moral support for the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.

Reacting, Falana described the fine as illegal and further added that the amended code under which the radio station was sanction has not got a solid legal backing.

"The chairman of the NBC board disclosed that the amendment of the code authorising the payment of the fine of N5 million was not approved by the board. That means that the amendment of the code has not come into force,” Falana said.

“In view of the fact that the imposition of the N5 million fine was anchored on a purported amendment of the code and since the NBC lacks the legal competence to impose a fine on any broadcasting station without a finding of guilt by a properly constituted criminal court the NBC should suo mutu quash the illegal fine.”

Mailafia was invited by the DSS over a claim he made that a governor from northern Nigeria is one of the commanders of Boko HaMailafia was invited by the DSS over a claim he made that a governor from northern Nigeria is one of the commanders of Boko Haram.

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