Updates: Court nullifies FG’s license suspension on AIT, Rapower Station

Court has nullified Federal government of Nigeria suspension order on AIT, and Raypower station.
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday, has nullified the suspension of operating license of Daar Communications PLC, operator of AIT and Ray Power, ordering both NBC and DAAR who are parties in the case of DAAR communications and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to maintain the status quo pending hearing the case on June 13, 2019.

The suspension of the DAAR communication licence was granted by The National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), Thursday.

According to the information, suspending the operational license of the Daar Communications PLC, operator of AIT and Ray Power become necessary as the communications company’s keep breaching the NBC’s broadcasting code of practice.

While delivering the order, by Justice Inyang Ekwo, he said it is mandated that the federal government and NBC to appear before the Court to show reasons why a revert to May 30, 2019 status quo ante bellum, sought by Daar Communications PLC should not be granted. Justice Ekwo had ordered the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Attorney General of the Federation to appear before the court on Thursday, June 13 to show cause why the motion on notice by Daar Communications PLC, challenging the ban should not be granted.

Recall that Dr. Modibbo Kawu Director general of NBC had on Thursday announce the ban on Daar Communications in Abuja.

Kawu said that it become necessary for NBC to take the decision, because of the violation of the broadcasting code by the stations which is backed by provisions of Section 10 of the Third Schedule of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He further faulted the company of not paying their license fees as at when due, saying in spite of regular warning to the company to operate with caution.

However, In an ex parte application, Daar Communications PLC, through its lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Thursday, demand the court to order the Commission to withdrew its ban.

Daar Communications PLC, In the suit filed against the NBC, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Daar claimed that they did not breach any broadcasting code. It asked the court to grant its prayers in “restraining the defendants from blocking, jamming, stopping removing from air and/or interfering with the air waves of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) in any way and manner however called from invading the premises of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) or closing down, viet armis, the said premises, its operations or broadcast services, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.”