Broadcasting
SERAP, Others Sue Mohammed, NBC, for Fines on Channels, AIT, Arise TV
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), 261 involved Nigerians, civil society and media teams have filed a lawsuit in opposition to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture.
The litigants are asking the courtroom to declare as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional the N3m tremendous imposed on every of Channels, AIT and Arise TV for his or her protection of the #EndSARS protests.
They are additionally asking the courtroom to cease NBC from amassing the cash.
Armstrong Idachaba, acting director-general of the NBC, is joined within the go well with as defendant.
The co-plaintiffs within the go well with are 255 involved Nigerians; Premium Times Services Limited; Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development; HEDA Resource Centre; International Centre for Investigative Reporting; African Centre for Media and Information Literacy; and Media Rights Agenda.
Idachaba, had final week introduced fines of N9m on Channels, AIT, and Arise TV for purported “unprofessional coverage” of the #EndSARS protests throughout the nation.
But within the go well with quantity FHC/ABJ/CS/1436/2020 filed final Friday on the Federal High Court, Abuja, the plaintiffs are searching for an order setting apart the arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional fines of N9m and every other penal sanction unilaterally imposed by the NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed on Channels, AIT and Arise TV, and on every other radio/tv stations merely for finishing up their skilled and constitutional duties.
They argued that Section (2)(n) of the NBC Act and the Broadcasting Code are oppressive, and clearly inconsistent with the Nigerian structure and the nation’s worldwide obligations.
The go well with reads, “If the NBC and Lai Mohammed are allowed to proceed to make use of these oppressive provisions in opposition to unbiased media within the guise of performing their statutory duties, the top end result will probably be authoritarianism and denial of freedom and liberty.
“The NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed have constantly used broadcasting codes to suppress the watchdog roles of unbiased media, and to violate Nigerians’ human rights, together with the rights to freedom of expression, to disseminate and obtain info, and maintain their authorities and public officers to account.
“The action by the NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed is arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional, as it is contrary to section 39 of the Nigerian constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria has ratified. Their action is apparently aimed to clampdown on media freedom and Nigerians’ human rights.”
The plaintiffs are additionally searching for an order setting apart the tremendous of N5m and every other penal sanction unilaterally imposed by the NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM Lagos, merely for finishing up its skilled and constitutional duties.
The radio station was fined after an interview the place a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia, stated he acquired info {that a} Northern governor sponsored Boko Haram.
The go well with filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their attorneys Kolawole Oluwadare, Adelanke Aremo and Opeyemi Owolabi, reads partly, “A tremendous is a prison sanction and solely the courtroom is empowered by the structure to impose it. Fine imposed by regulatory companies just like the NBC with out recourse to the courts is prohibited, unconstitutional and offends the sacred ideas of pure justice and equity.
“It is the obligation of the federal government to permit the authorized and judicial powers of the state to perform correctly. Imposing any tremendous in any respect with out due strategy of regulation is unfair, because it contravenes the ideas of ‘nemo judex in causa sua’ which accurately means ‘one cannot be a judge in his own cause’ and ‘audi alteram partem’ which accurately means ‘no one should be condemned unheard’.
“The NBC, being a regulatory body, is not empowered by law to act as the prosecutor and the judge; all at the same time. We humbly urge the court to set aside the unlawful and unconstitutional fines imposed on independent media houses, and to uphold the sanctity of the Nigerian constitution, Nigerians’ human rights, media freedom, and the rule of law.”
QNET, a global leader in direct selling focused on wellness and lifestyle products, firmly disassociates itself from any unlawful activities being conducted by unauthorized individuals or entities fraudulently using the QNET name to mislead and exploit members of the Nigerian public.
These concerns have resurfaced following the arrests of several suspects in Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
QNET commends the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its actions in apprehending those responsible and is actively supporting the authorities to prevent further misuse of its brand.
QNET Says NO to Brand Misuse and Criminal Misrepresentation
QNET is a 27-year-old international direct selling company offering wellness and lifestyle products through a network of independent distributors.
These individuals are customers who have purchased QNET products and have chosen to build their own direct selling business using our platform. They operate independently and are not employees of QNET.
Unfortunately, certain third-party entities such as Mighty Infinity Millionaire Ltd, that have no affiliation to QNET, and operate without our oversight or recognition, have grossly misrepresented the QNET business model and acted in a manner that is in no way a representation of QNET business ethics or values.
We unequivocally state that such entities and individuals are not affiliated with or endorsed by QNET. QNET reiterates that Transblue Nigeria Limited remains our sole partner in Nigeria.
Operating Within Legal and Ethical Boundaries
In Nigeria, QNET operates strictly within the legal and regulatory frameworks through our official local partner, Transblue Nigeria Limited. We remain committed to ethical business practices and protecting both our brand and the public from exploitation. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant, verify the authenticity of individuals or entities claiming affiliation with QNET, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
Statement from QNET’s Regional Leadership & Legal Nigerian Partner
Responding to the fraudulent activities being perpetrated in QNET’s name, Biram Fall, Regional General Manager of QNET for Sub-Saharan Africa, states, “We are extremely disturbed by the way unscrupulous individuals have misused the QNET brand to deceive innocent Nigerians with false promises. At QNET, our values are rooted in honesty and empowering people to build better lives through genuine means. We remain committed to supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to bring these fraudsters to justice and encourage the public to verify any claims of affiliation with QNET before getting involved.”
To avoid further confusion, QNET wishes to emphasize the following:
● QNET does not operate or endorse any physical or online university under the name “Q-University” in Nigeria. QNET is part of a larger business conglomerate that operates the Quest International University in Malaysia, which does not have any overseas campus.
● QNET is not involved with online medical courses or academic institutions in Nigeria.
● QNET does not support or condone recruitment-driven models that promise employment, scholarships, or guaranteed returns unrelated to the legitimate sale or purchase of QNET products.
● QNET strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our intellectual property – including company logos, founder portraits, and promotional materials – by fraudulent actors aiming to mislead the public.
QNET’s Awareness Creation and Consumer Protection Efforts
Since entering the Nigerian market in 2022, QNET with the support of our local partner, Transblue Nigeria Limited, have prioritized financial literacy and consumer protection. In November 2023, we launched the Say NO! Awareness Campaign to educate the public about scams and promote responsible entrepreneurship. The campaign has reached thousands through multilingual billboards, radio messages, educational pamphlets, and online platforms. As part of this campaign, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) were also engaged.
Cooperation with Law Enforcement
QNET expresses its full support and appreciation for the EFCC’s efforts to protect citizens and crack down on cyber and financial crimes. We are actively cooperating with the Commission in its investigations and are committed to further educating the public on the nature and values of QNET’s legitimate operations.
Public Advisory: How to Stay Safe
To protect yourself from scams falsely linked to QNET:
● Verify all QNET-related information at: www.qnet.net
● Report suspicious activity via email: network.integrity@qnet.net or WhatsApp: +233 256 630 005
● Learn how to identify scams at: www.saynocampaign.org
QNET remains fully committed to ethical business practices and transparency. We stand with Nigerian authorities in protecting citizens from fraud and will continue to cooperate fully to bring those misusing our brand to justice.
Eedris Abdulkareem, veteran hip hop artiste, is showing no signs of backing down as he hints at releasing another protest song, shortly after his last track was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Eedris Abdulkareem, veteran hip hop artiste
He recently again stirred the political waters as he hinted at the release of a new protest song, only weeks after his controversial track Tell Your Papa was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission.
The outspoken musician took to social media on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to share an animated cover design with the words “3 Arms of Government,” suggesting the theme of his upcoming release.
Though the title remains undisclosed, the post was captioned simply with “Stay tuned,” fueling speculation that another hard-hitting social commentary is on the way.
Abdulkareem, known for his unapologetic political views, recently described the NBC’s decision to ban Tell Your Papa as hypocritical. Undeterred by censorship, he appears set to continue using music as a platform to criticize injustice and demand accountability.
The rapper also recently reaffirmed the relevance of his classic hit Jaga Jaga, stating that it would remain the country’s “second unofficial national anthem” until key issues like security, electricity, and governance are addressed.
With another protest song on the horizon, fans and critics alike are bracing for what may be Eedris Abdulkareem’s most direct political message yet.
In celebration of the Easter season, MultiChoice has announced the launch of a dedicated Easter Pop-Up Channel, offering DStv and GOtv subscribers across Nigeria the chance to experience live broadcasts of key Easter events and services from the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.
The special channel, which runs from Thursday, April 17 to Monday, April 21, will be available on DStv channel 196 and GOtv channel 28, bringing the significance and beauty of Easter directly into viewers’ homes.
Throughout the Easter period, the channel will broadcast a rich lineup of live religious events. The programming begins on Thursday, April 17, with the Chrism Mass in the morning, followed by the Mass of the Last Supper in the evening.
On Good Friday, April 18, viewers can join in the Good Friday Tenebrae and the Seven Last Words service, followed by the Stations of the Cross from St. Gregory’s, and later the Passion Service.
The spiritual journey continues on Saturday, April 19, with the Easter Vigil Mass late in the evening, leading into the Easter Sunday Mass on April 20. The channel’s special programming concludes on Monday, April 21, with the Easter Monday Mass from Galilee.
This dedicated pop-up channel is designed for those who may be unable to attend church services in person, as well as for anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual observance during the Easter holidays. By broadcasting these significant events, MultiChoice reaffirms its commitment to providing content that resonates with the cultural and religious values of its viewers.
Subscribers are encouraged to tune in to DStv channel 196 and GOtv channel 28 throughout the Easter period to take part in these important religious celebrations from the comfort of their homes.
Tribunal Upholds FCCPC’s $220m Fine against Meta, WhatsApp
Legend Internet Plc Makes History as First Indigenous Telecom Firm on NGX
Digital Realty Expands ServiceFabric to Nigeria, Enhancing Global Interconnectivity
World Bank Predicts Rise of Poverty in Nigeria Despite Economic Growth
MTN Group Suffers Cyberattack
E-Business1 day agoALX Nigeria Launches 2025 Ventures Incubator, Premieres Pan-African “Do Hard Things” Finale
E-Financial1 day agoInsurance Bill Seeks Compensation for Customers of Failed Firms
E-Financial1 day agoSANEF’s Uche Uzoebo Highlights AI as Next Frontier in Advancement of Financial Inclusion
E-Financial2 days agoUnion Bank’s Edu360 Initiative Scores Big for Nigerian Football Development
E-Financial1 day agoFintechs Add $18m to New Tax Initiative
E-Financial1 day agoCBN Puts Accumulated Savings, Liquid Assets by Nigerians at N75.65trn
General News2 days agoMTN Go Make A Difference Campaign Heads to Kano, Celebrating Culture and Community Impact
Telecom2 days agoEU Fines Apple and Meta €700m in Landmark Digital Markets Act Enforcement