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Tag: AIT

  • AIT/Raypower: PDP commends judiciary for upholding justice, rule of law

    AIT/Raypower: PDP commends judiciary for upholding justice, rule of law

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has praised the judiciary “for upholding justice and the tenets of democracy, particularly the right of fair hearing, by ordering the immediate reopening of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio”.
    The party gave the commendation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Saturday in Abuja.
    The National Broadcasting Commission （NBC） had on Thursday announced the suspension of the licences of the African Independent Television and Ray Power FM belonging to the Daar Communications Limited.
    The NBC Director-General, Dr Modibbo Kawu, who announced the suspension at a nees conference in Abuja, said that the suspension was until further notice.
    The offences listed by the NBC included the airing of a Presidential election documentary by the AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal, the inability of the company to pay its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the social media” among others.
    Ologbondiyan, however, said that by the reopening order issued by the court, which spurred spontaneous jubilation by Nigerians across the country, the judiciary had again “restored hope in our democracy and the rule of law”.
    He added that the judiciary had also demonstrated that “it is indeed the last hope of the common man in the face of an oppressive system”.
    Ologbondiyan condemned what he described as assault on media houses and journalists.
    He described it as a calculated plot to cow and emasculate the press, asphyxiate free speech and suffocate public opinion.
    “Our party holds that media intimidation, as a feature of military regime, must not be allowed in a democratic order, adding that there is no way democracy, with its principles and values, can thrive without a free press,” he stated.
    He urged the judiciary to continue to uphold the sanctity of justice in protecting democratic order and rights of citizens under Nigeria laws despite the intimidation and harassment.
    Ologbondiyan also cautioned the security agencies not to allow themselves to be used by desperate power mongers against law-abiding citizens, but to ensure that their actions were backed by the dictates of the law.
    He also urged the security agencies to be guided by the ruling of the court which states that the status quo, as at May 30, be maintained.
    He said：“As at May 30, there were no security occupation on the premises of Daar Communication, breathing down on journalists and other workers going about their daily activities.
    “The party also call on the media, as the fourth estate of the realm, not to be cowed but continue to discharge their constitutional duties in national development, in line with its professional ethics and best practices.”
  • Police, DSS continue siege on AIT, Raypower stations few hours after resuming operations

    Police, DSS continue siege on AIT, Raypower stations few hours after resuming operations

    Reports reaching TNG has it that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Department of State Security Services (DSS) on Saturday are still surrounding the premises of the broadcast station hours after it resumed operations. They were still there at mid day but were generally not stopping or harassing anyone.

    Recall that the private broadcast station returned on air late Friday after enduring over 24 hours of shutdown by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    The Federal High Court in Abuja voided the government’s suspension of the station’s broadcast licence and asked it to return on air immediately.

    However, few hours after resuming operations, Group Managing Director of the station, Tony Akiotu raised the alarm that security forces had gathered outside the station’s premises.

    As of 12.30 a.m. this morning, the premises of DAAR Communications Plc was surrounded by security operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, Mr Akiotu said in a message to on Saturday.

    They came “heavily fortified and carrying out surveillance on the premises,” he added.

    Akiotu described the surveillance as “unusual” and its motive “unclear” but said the station will not be deterred by outside forces.

    “The station is still transmitting signals on its national and global beam,” Akiotu said, adding that the police and DSS’ action was an “unwarranted threat” to the station.

    However, effort to reach spokespersons of the security agencies was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

  • BREAKING: AIT back on-air as NBC complies with court’s ruling

    BREAKING: AIT back on-air as NBC complies with court’s ruling

    Following yesterday’s court ruling on the controversial ban of the operating license of DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and Raypower FM, by the National Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, the African Independent Television, AIT, is back on-air and has resumed broadcast.

    Recall that barely 24 hours after the NBC had banned Daar Communications PLC from operation, a federal high court in Abuja had nullified the suspension, ordering both NBC and DAAR who are parties in the case of DAAR communications and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to maintain the status quo pending a hearing on June 13, 2019.

    The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, had, Thursday, suspended the operating license of the Daar Communications PLC, operator of AIT and Ray Power over alleged breach of the NBC’s broadcasting code.

    Recall that while announcing the ban on Daar Communications in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of the NBC, Dr. Modibbo Kawu had said that the decision was based on the violation of the broadcasting code by the stations which is backed by provisions of Section 10 of the Third Schedule of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Apart from violating broadcasting code, he said the decision was also taken for the failure of the broadcast stations to pay their license fees as when due, even persistent warning to the company to toe the line of caution. But Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High court, while delivering an order on Friday, ordered the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Attorney General of the Federation to appear before the court on Thursday, June 13 to show cause why the motion on notice by Daar Communications PLC, challenging the ban should not be granted.

    In an ex parte application, Daar Communications PLC, had, through its lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Thursday, asked the court to order the Commission to revert its ban. Daar Communications PLC, In the suit against the NBC, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Daar claimed that did not breach any broadcast code.

    It asked the court to grant its prayers in “restraining the defendants from blocking, jamming, stopping removing from air and/or interfering with the air waves of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) in any way and manner however called from invading the premises of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) or closing down, viet armis, the said premises, its operations or broadcast services, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.”

  • Comply with court order on reopening AIT, Raypower stations, Saraki tells NBC

    Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has asked the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to comply with court order to re-open the African Independent Television, AIT, and Ray Power FM shut by the commission on Thursday.

    Recall that the NBC, had on Thursday shut AIT and Ray Power owned by DAAR Communications for breaching its guidelines.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Friday ordered NBC to re-open the station pending determination of the matter in court.

    Speaking on the matter, Saraki, in a statement, said the management and the workers of AIT and DAAR Communications came to the National Assembly to air out their concerns over the purported moves to clamp down on their stations.

    “As Thursday was the Valedictory session of the 8th Senate, we could not take action on the matter immediately and to our surprise, the premises of the broadcast station were immediately closed by the NBC.

    “Regulators, though necessary, must know that all such actions that give the impression of the endangering of the freedom of the press or freedom of speech cast our nation in a bad light. Such issues need to be handled in a better manner,” he said.

    Moving forward, Saraki stated that the NBC needed to comply with the court’s order and that “we must understand that this is not only about AIT, this is about Nigeria and one of its stations that is not only viewed within the country, but outside the country as well.

    “The NBC should find a better way to resolve the issue, even after adhering to the ruling of the court. We must be seen to be a nation that adheres strictly to the rule of law.”

  • BREAKING: Court orders re-opening of AIT, Ray Power FM

    BREAKING: Court orders re-opening of AIT, Ray Power FM

    A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday ordered the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to re-open African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power FM.

    The NBC had on Thursday shutdown the two stations owned by Raymond Dokpesi’s DAAR Communication indefinitely for violating its guidelines.

    Ruling on the matter on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekpo ordered the re-opening of the stations and ordered that parties in the case should maintain the status quo.

    The presiding judge adjourned the case to June 13 for the defendant to show cause why the order should not be granted.

    The NBC had suspended the licences of the African AIT, and Ray Power FM indefinitely, as its Director-General, Dr Modibbo Kawu, said on Thursday in Abuja, that the stations committed offences, which included the airing of a Presidential election documentary by the AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal; the inability of the company to pay its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the social media,” and others.

    NBC had similarly before the election shut down Joy FM in Jos for violations of the broadcasting code. Last year, the NBC also shut down Ekiti Radio/TV station when former governor Ayo Fayose used the stations to broadcast fake election results.

  • Why we shut down AIT, Raypower indefinitely – NBC

    Why we shut down AIT, Raypower indefinitely – NBC

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has explained that it suspended the licence of Daar Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television and Ray Power radio, for failure to abide by Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

    The Director-General of NBC, Malam Is’haq Modibbo-Kawu made this known on Thursday in Abuja.

    Kawu said over the last two years, NBC summoned the management of the company to address issues regarding the operations of AIT and Raypower; particularly on the programmes called the Political Platform and Kakaaki.

    He explained that in one of its meetings with the company held on June 2, 2017 the commission expressed its disappointment with the way and manner hate speech, divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.

    According to Kawu, Daar Communications has over the years turned itself into a bad example of how a professional broadcast outfit should not be run.

    “In their relationship with the NBC, Daar communications carry on as if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the commission.

    “They don’t pay their licence fees as and when due and its broadcast is patently partisan and one sided and deliberately inciting and heating up the polity.

    “The management of the Company has created the habit of using the channel to fight its personal battles contrary to the statutory requirements of the law.”

    The D-G said on June 6 AIT and Raypower embarked on use of inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda against the government and the NBC for performing its statutory functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria.

    “Recently, NBC monitoring reports on AIT and Raypower indicate the use of divisive comments accredited to the segment of “Kakaaki”, tagged, “Kakaaki Social”,

    “Where inciting comments like, “Nigeria is cursed, “we declare independent state of Niger Delta”, “Nigeria irritates me”, “this country is gradually Islamising” and other similar slogans are used without editorial control in breach of the broadcast Code.

    “Consequently, after several meetings with management of Daar Communications Plc and many letters of warning, the NBC, today June 6, 2019 took a decision to suspend the licence of
    Daar Communications Plc for failure to abide by the commission’s directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    “This decision is based on the provisions of Section 10 of the Third Schedule of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which states that where in the opinion of the commission the station has been used in a manner detrimental to national interest.

    The NBC act also empowers the commission to wield the stick where there is wilful or repeated failure to operate substantially as set forth in the licence, where there is wilful or repeated violation or wilful or repeated failure to observe any provision of this Act or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorised by this Act or by a treaty ratified by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where there is violation of or failure to observe any cease and desist order issued by the Commission and where a provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code has been seriously breached.

    Kawu said the shutdown order is until further notice.”

  • JUST IN: NBC shuts down AIT, Raypower indefinitely

    JUST IN: NBC shuts down AIT, Raypower indefinitely

    The National Broadcasting Commission on Thursday announced the suspension of the licences of the African Independent Television and Ray Power FM belonging to the Daar Communications Limited.

    The NBC Director-General, Dr Modibbo Kawu, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, saying the Daar Communication Limited’s media houses’ shutdown was until further notice.

    The offences listed by the NBC included the airing of a Presidential election documentary by the AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal, the inability of the company to pay its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the social media” among others.

     

    Details later…

  • BREAKING: FCT Administration demolishes structures within AIT premises

    BREAKING: FCT Administration demolishes structures within AIT premises

    Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja are currently demolishing some structures within the premises of Daar Communications Plc, Abuja (owners of AIT and Ray power television and radio stations).

    The demolition exercise which is still ongoing as at the time of filing this report is beaming live on AIT, Abuja.

    According to officials of the station, there was no official communication whatsoever to notify them of the demolition: “At as this morning, solid edifices where standing here. But to our surprise and without prior notification, bulldozers on authority of the FCTA stormed our station unannounced this morning pulling down these structures. This is not the first time that a demolition exercise will be carried out within the premises of this station. A similar demolition happened in 2011,” the official said.

    However, findings by TNG revealed that both the FCT Administration and the Daar Communications management have been having a long running battle over the location and allocation of the station in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that the two warring parties had on November 2018 resolved to tow the path of peaceful resolution of issues surrounding a portion of land occupied by the station.

    TNG learnt that during the November 2018 reconciliatory meeting, the duo had mutually agreed to reach an out-of-court settlement that would bring about permanent solution and forge ahead with the development of the FCT and the nation.

    During the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Bashir Mai-Borno, who led the FCTA team, harped on the necessity for not complicating simple issues, while assuring that the current administration would solve the matter amicably, satisfying all the parties involved.

    Mai-Borno said while pointing to the problem areas on a satellite image map, exhibited an in-depth knowledge of the situation, and effectively explained the knotty issues about the landed property to High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, owner of DAAR Group and his team.

    He, however, directed an immediate on-the-spot investigation of the area and appealed for calm, promising that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, would finally resolve the matter in a manner that all parties would be happy.

    He added that the physical visit was necessary to determine the true position if claims and counter- claims by all parties, including complaints lodged by allottees that their plots had been subsumed by AIT, and that they do not have access to their land.

    More details later…

  • Obasanjo tells AIT to tender apology over meeting with Osinbajo, Amaechi

    …Says he owns no twitter account

    Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked the African Independent Television (AIT) to retract with apology, the airing of a photo on its social media segment, Kakaaki Social, where a purported tweeter account belonging to him, depicted a picture of an alleged meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, at his Ota farm in Ogun state.

    Obasanjo said the apology should also be extended to Osinbajo for the embarrassment the depiction of the picture might have caused him.

    The elder statesman who made this known in a statement through his Special Assistant (Media), Kehinde Akinyemi, on Thursday, expressed disappointment that AIT could disseminate information it sourced from fake Twitter Account without first verifying it.

    He disclosed that he does not have Twitter account anywhere and expressed concern over the continuous use of his name by suspected fraudsters on social media platforms.

    Obasanjo warned that whoever that is caught perpetrating the act, would be made to face prosecution immediately, even as he advised the media to always be professional in discharging their duty and refrain from creating unnecessary confusion and heating up the polity

    “It is a fact that severally, the former President has dissociated himself from owning any social media account. Therefore, it is highly disappointing that such sensitive Twitter post would be allowed to go on air without verification by the African Independent Television (AIT).

    “There was no meeting with the Vice President anywhere. I was at the Airport and was informed that he was around in the Lounge and out of courtesy; I felt I should go and greet him. We met, greeted and exchanged pleasantries and I left. That was all.

    “The station should have been very professional and not causing confusion and heating up the polity. That I am not operating any social media account should not be strange to a station like AIT, and for that embarrassment, the Vice President and I deserve an apology,” Obasanjo said.

     

  • IPC calls for thorough police investigations over shooting of female AIT reporter

    The International Press Centre, Lagos-Nigeria is calling for thorough police investigations over the shooting of female Africa Independent Television (AIT) reporter, Miss Owei Patience by gunmen on Friday, 8th December 2017.

    According to reports from The Nation online, “Owei, who covers the Government House, was attacked by gunmen at about 10:30 pm on Friday while returning from a church service. She was shot at close range and dispossessed of her mobile phones, cash and other valuables.”

    The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement described the unfortunate occurrence as a great concern to the Nigerian media and its stakeholders.

    “It is unfortunate that we almost lost one of our own in the media to gunmen. This again points to the security lapses in the Nigerian society which calls for a serious concern and thorough investigations by the Nigerian Police.”

    IPC therefore calls the attention of the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa state to immediately investigate this attack as it is not the first of its kind. The culprits involved should be made to face the law.

    IPC also appreciates the efforts being made by the Bayelsa state government to take up the medical bill of Owei’s treatment in the hospital.