Nigeria’s Minister of Information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has denied announcing the increase of hate speech fine from N500,000 to N5 million, despite video evidence that captured him announcing the increment.
The minister had announced the increase in hate speech fine while unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting code in August.
He went on to justify the increment on a TVC live Programme, “This Morning” on Friday, August 7, 2020, noting that the development was geared towards deterring Nigerians who are willingly violating the provision from destabilizing the country.
However, Mohammed – in a counter-affidavit in response to an originating motion filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong to challenge the fine, – said he did not announce any fine for hate speech.
The Punch reports that Effiong is challenging the imposition of N5m fine on Nigeria Info 99.3FM over alleged hate speech.
The affidavit deposed to by a Litigation Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Sunday Ojobo, reads, “Paragraph 19 is denied. The 2nd defendant (Mohammed) did not announce an increment in any fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5,000,000 or any other because there is a governmental body or institution mandated to regulate and enforce the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.”
The minister who stressed that the constitution gives room for the suspension of human rights for the sake of national interests, added that the NBC is empowered by an Act to sanction stations that contravene its code.
He went on to argue that Effiong does not have rights to challenge NBC’s Code as he is not directly affected by the commission’s sanction.
He said, “The 1st respondent (NBC) has powers in determining and applying sanctions including revocation of licences of defaulting stations which do not operate in accordance with the broadcast code and in the public interest.
“A public affairs commentator, anchor of programmes and the media are not to use their platform to incite public violence or disorder or in a manner detrimental to the national interest.
“It is within the purview of the Federal Government of Nigeria to maintain public safety, public order in the interest of all citizens of Nigeria to avoid breakdown of law and order.”
Also responding to the suit, the NBC backed the position of Lai Mohammed, noting that it had the right to sanction errant stations.
