President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor(aka Ultimate Equals), has gotten a favourable judgement
in a press freedom and NBC clampdown suit that he initiated at the ECOWAS Court.
The suit, which was filed by fiery human rights lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien(Jnr) on behalf of the rights activist, also seeks damages and restraining orders against the Nigerian government, to prevent it from enforcing Sections 5, 4, 3, 1 of NBC code on all broadcasting stations.
The sections relate to reportage and giving details of security issues and persons affected by insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
But the group argued that the actions offend all relevant laws and the African Charter on Media and Broadcasting Rights and Freedom of Press.
The One Love Foundation had in a suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/43/21 in 2021 sought an order of court directing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government and the National Broadcasting Corporation(NBC), a government agency, to desist from enforcing Section 5, 4, 3, 1 of the NBC code on all broadcasting stations. The ECOWAS court today, Friday, 12th May, 2023, partly heard the matter.
Then after it was proved to the satisfaction of the court, that the Office of Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) of Nigeria was served all court processes on this matter since 2021 without a filed defence by the government.
On application by Samuel Ihensekhien being counsel to the applicant , awarded costs and punitive fines, in the sum of N250,000 against the AGF and Federal Republic of Nigeria. This was after the government legal team sought for adjournment of the suit to another date.
The ECOWAS Court further adjourned the suit to the 30th May, 2023 for further hearing.
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