NPC, NBC amendment bills against constitution, attempt to criminalise freedom of expression –Falana - Punch Newspapers

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, in this interview with SAMSON FOLARIN, urges media professionals to mobilise public support against the proposed amendments of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and the Nigerian Press Council Act.The timing is totally wrong as the atmosphere is currently polluted. The sponsors of the anti-media bills should have awaited the resolution of the ban on Twitter.

The proposed amendments of the two acts made provisions for journalists to be jailed for up to three years or fined up to N10m. How do these amendments compare with Decree 4 of 1984 enacted by Buhari when he was the head of state? The provisions of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 are more stringent than what is being proposed in the amendments. But the section has been annulled by the ECOWAS Court. To that extent, the provision of the law can no longer be invoked to prosecute any citizen or organisation in the country. The Buhari regime has subjected journalists to trial under the Treason Act, while others have been charged with treasonable felony.

In the proposed amendment to the NBC Act, the NBC is given powers to determine public interest and impose sanctions on television stations, including fines and revocation of licences where it feels broadcasters have acted against its perception of public interest. What danger does this portend for our democracy?

The controversial amendment of the NBC Code was not carried out by the NBC Board. The amendment has been challenged in court by an activist, Effiong Enibebe. The government has no defence to the case. That is what informed the proposal to empower the NBC to impose the prohibitive fines.

It’s time to take back our country. We need our own political party,we can fund it ourselves via gofundme. We need to start reaching out to the public. Now or never RuggedyBaba basket_mouth AishaYesufu mrmacaronii iRuntown falzthebahdguy instablog9ja DONJAZZY YeleSowore

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