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Court
Grants Media Rights Agenda Leave to Sue Federal Government Over Media
Governing Bodies
Lagos, Monday, May 22, 2000:
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
judicial permission to apply for orders to compel the Federal Government
to constitute the governing boards of the National Broadcasting Commission
(NBC) and three Government-owned media establishments.
The affected media establishments are the Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Voice
of Nigeria (VON).
In four separate suits, two Federal High Court judges,
Justice Chukwura Nnamani and Justice M.A. Edet, granted MRA’s applications
for leave to apply for an order of mandamus to compel President
Olusegun Obasanjo and other relevant Government officials to constitute
the governing bodies of the organizations in accordance with the laws
establishing them.
A fifth suit, also seeking leave to compel the constitution
of the governing board of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN),
is yet to be heard.
Media Rights Agenda filed the suits on March 17, this year
complaining that the Government’s failure to comply with the laws
establishing the organizations undermines their overall performance
especially in balancing the interests of every sector of the society that
ought, by legal requirements, to be represented in the boards.
It contended that the present situation where each of the
organizations is run by a Director-General or Managing Director appointed
by the President in the absence of a duly constituted board, as provided
for by law, is illegal.
The respondents in the suit are the President, the Minister
of Information and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Specifically, MRA is seeking an order of the Court to
compel the Federal Government to forthwith constitute:
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The Board of Directors for NAN in the
form and manner required by Section 3 of the News Agency of Nigeria
(Amendment) Decree No. 87 of 1992.
§
The governing board of the NTA in the
form and manner required by Section 2(1) of the Nigerian Television
Authority Act (Chapter 329, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990).
§
The governing board of VON in the form
and manner required by Section 2 of the Voice of Nigeria Corporation
Decree No. 15 of 1991.
§
The governing board of the FRCN in the
form and manner required by Section 2(1) of the Federal Radio Corporation
Act (Chapter 140, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990).
§
The governing board of the NBC in the
form and manner required by Section 3(1) of the National Broadcasting
Commission Decree No. 38 of 1992 as amended by Section 3 of the National
Broadcasting Commission (Amendment) Decree No. 55 of 1999.
Justice Nnamani, who is presiding in the suits over the
constitution of the governing bodies of the NBC, NAN, and VON, has fixed
hearing in the substantive suits for June 7, while Justice Edet, who is
hearing the suit for the constitution of the governing board of the NTA,
adjourned further proceedings till May 31.
Contact:
Tive Denedo
Director of Campaigns
Tel: 01-4936033, 4936034
Fax: 01-4930831
E-mail:
mra@mediarightsagenda.org |
