Justice Inyang Ekwo, who was the presiding judge in the suit challenging the suspension of the licence of the media group and the shutting down of same, quickly granted the motion experte, asking that status quo be maintained until the suit is heard.
The judge however, rejected DAAR’s two prayers, seeking restraining orders against the respondents – NBC, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMIC) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
NBC Director General, Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, had yesterday, June 6, announced the shutdown of the AIT and Ray Power FM radio, saying that the action was taken for failure of the broadcasting station to abide by the broadcasting code.
NBC had earlier queried AIT over the use of social media comments in one of its programmes, Kakaaki, and ‘unprofessional’ conducts by the media house.
However, Justice Ekwo said that DAAR would be penalised should it turn out, at the end of the day, that the order ought not to have been made.
The judge said that the issues raised in the application by DAAR Communications, showed that the respondents deserved to be heard.
He ordered the respondents – NBC, FMIC, AGF – “to appear in court on the next date to show cause why the prayers in the applicant’s motion should not be granted.”
The case was adjourned to June 13, 2019.
