Human Rights Lawyer Sues FG, NBC Over Hate Speech Fine
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; the Federal Government, and the National Broadcasting Commission for fining broadcasting networks for hate speech.
According to Efiong, such actions have gravely affected his freedom of expression and that of broadcast stations, broadcasters and other Nigerian citizens who also appear as guests on radio and television stations to express critical views about the government and public officeholders.
Recall that the NBC had fined Nigeria Info for granting an interview to a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, who claimed that an unidentified northern governor was a Boko Haram commander, after threatening that any TV or radio station that allows elected officials to be insulted on its platform would be fined N 5 m or shut down.
The lawyer argued that “abusing” or “insulting” the government cannot be criminalized in a democracy, noting that, “hate speech” is not defined under any written law and cannot be invoked or penalized based on the capricious expectations of the Respondents.
He said; “To do otherwise“ will amount to setting fire to the constitution” and that “those who are paid with taxpayers’ money cannot be insulated or shielded from insults and abuse by those who pay them (the citizens)”.
“Nigeria has passed the era of colonialism and military dictatorship”. Lai Mohammed, NBC and the Federal Government were “seeking to subvert Nigeria’s constitutional democracy with the attendant liberties and foist a civilian dictatorship on the country.”
The lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to make “a declaration that broadcast stations in Nigeria, broadcasters, guests and callers during radio and television programmes are entitled to a fair trial before a court of competent jurisdiction as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended ) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights ( Ratification and Enforcement ) Act, Cap . A 9 L. F.N . 2004 before a sentence of fine or other penalties can be imposed on them over comments, views or opinions expressed on radio and television”.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News
