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Tag: Fine

  • Join strike now or pay N5m fine, NARD threatens COVID-19 doctors

    Join strike now or pay N5m fine, NARD threatens COVID-19 doctors

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has ordered doctors at the COVID-19 isolation centers to join the ongoing nationwide strike.

    NARD threatened that failure to do so will attract a fine of N5m.

    The body also warned that any branches ignoring the ongoing strike, which started on April 1, would not be able to hold any national position for the next two years.

    The threat to impose a N5m fine on errant branches was contained in an internal memo sent out to members by the National Executive Council of the association, the Punch newspaper reported.

    The internal memo read in part, “NARD affirms her commitment to the welfare of all members. All members of NARD will be levied the sum of N2, 500 as a strike levy for the smooth prosecution of the industrial action.

    “Penalty for any centre that sabotages the industrial action will be payment of a fine of N5m and suspension from holding any NARD national officers committee positions for two years.”

    NARD, an association of doctors undergoing residency training, had on April 1 begun a nationwide strike over the government’s failure to pay salaries of house officers and review the N5,000 hazard allowance of doctors.

    Last-minute efforts on March 31 by the Federal Government to prevent the strike failed as the doctors shunned an agreement they signed with the government on the grounds that the proposals contained in it were not new.

  • FG slams heavy fine on brands running adverts on CNN, others

    FG slams heavy fine on brands running adverts on CNN, others

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says Nigerian brands like Guinness which run adverts during foreign matches must compulsorily advertise during Nigerian Premier Football League games.

    The minister further stated that brands that create their adverts abroad but broadcast them on CNN and other international stations broadcasting in Nigeria will pay a fine of N100,000 each time such adverts are run.

    Mohammed said this was one of the rules included in the Broadcasting Code which has been rejected by many in the industry.

    The minister said on NTA’s ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ programme on Monday that this was the only way to help the local league thrive.

    He said, “Let’s assume you have brought in La Liga, and during the matches, Guinness is advertised, we will compel you, we will compel Guinness to also advertise when we are playing a local league. That is the only way we can grow this industry but as can be expected, we have had very few supporters.”

    He said in the event that the brand wants to run the advert on a local station like NTA, the brand would pay a N100,000 fine each time it is broadcast.

    Mohammed added that adverts promoting Nigerian brands must be directed and authored by Nigerians inside the country.

    The minister said “If you do an advert in South Africa, you put it on CNN and we look at that advert and we see that the advert was not made in Nigeria but actually made in South Africa, or you see that five times a day, it is on CNN, you pay half a million to us. The half a million will go to the Content Development Fund.”

    He further stated that the NBC had been asked to implement a regulation mandating exclusive licensees and broadcasters to share exclusive rights with other broadcasters.

    Mohammed said this policy would ensure that Multichoice would no longer have the monopoly of broadcasting the English Premier League.

    The minister added, “What is common today is to see products made in Nigeria but the advert for those products are actually probably done in South Africa or in the US. So, we amended the code to say that if a product you want to advertise in Nigeria territory is made in Nigeria, grown in Nigeria or processed in Nigeria, then you must make sure that the advert is also produced in Nigeria.

    “Gulder is made, processed in Nigeria. If you go to South Africa to produce an advert which you are going to air to Nigerians because Nigerians consume Gulder, what we have amended the code to say is that for every time that advert is aired in Nigeria either on radio or television, you pay a fine of N100,000. We are not stopping you from making your production in America or South Africa but if you are going to advertise in Nigerian territory, you will pay a fine of N100,000.

    “In other words, if Gulder makes an advert in South Africa and it is shown on NTA, if it shows it 10 times a day, it will pay N100,000 fine 10 times.”

    Mohammed stated that if any Nigerian company invests in a foreign league, the firm must invest at least 30 per cent of that money in Nigerian football.

    “We went further to say that if a company should invest $1m in bringing EPL to Nigeria, that company must also be ready to spend 30 per cent of that $1m in producing a local content along the same line.

    “In other words, if Maltina or Guinness decides to bring in EPL, which is English football, we have no problem with that. But they must also invest in covering our local league to the tune of 30 per cent of what he has paid,” the minister said.

    Mohammed argued that until the anti-competitive and monopolistic tendencies are expunged from the broadcast sector, Nigeria would not be able to grow local content.

    “The NBC has issued about 30 pay-TV licences but only one is managing to survive. Why? Because of these anti-competitive and manipulative tendencies of these foreign companies,” he said.

  • Foreign airline bags N7m fine for cancelling flights without notice

    Foreign airline bags N7m fine for cancelling flights without notice

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has awarded a fine of N6 million as general damages against Ethiopian Airlines Ltd. for cancelling three Nigerians’ flights without due notice to the plaintiffs.

    In his ruling on Friday, Justice Adekunle Faji also awarded another sum of N1 million as the cost of the action.

    The sums were awarded in favour of the plaintiffs, the Madakin Zazzau, Munir Jaafaru; his wife Hadizat Jaafaru, and their daughter, Hafsat Jaafaru, for the hardships, stress, and inconvenience caused them by the airline’s cancellation of their flights without notice.

    In the suit filed on April 27, 2018, the plaintiffs sought among other things, a declaration that the airline contravened the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Regulations, 2015 by cancelling the flights without due notice and for the consequent hardships, stress, and inconvenience.

    Justice Faji, in his judgment, also held that the defendant was bound to give notice of the flight cancellation to the plaintiffs and having not shown proof of such notice, its action was in breach of the contract of carriage.

    He also found that the defendant breached the contract of carriage with the plaintiffs by its failure to give notice of its flight cancellation, as required by the NCAA Regulations.

    The judge noted that this caused the plaintiffs who were on a family trip in a foreign land hardship, stress, and inconvenience in rescheduling their flights.

    With this decision, the court has established the principle that the cancellation of flights by airlines without due notice to the passenger may render the airline liable.

  • Benue releases confiscated 210 cows to owners after collecting N5m fine

    Benue releases confiscated 210 cows to owners after collecting N5m fine

    The Benue State Government has released 210 cows earlier confiscated by the state livestock guards at Mbala, Makurdi, and Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

    The cows were returned to the owners after various fines worth N5million in total, were paid.

    The commander of the Benue State Livestock Guards, Linus Zaki, while returning the cattle to the owners, warned them to desist from violating the open grazing prohibition law of 2017 and seek approval for the establishment of ranches.

    He warned herdsmen not to flout the state’s anti-open grazing law, saying the state would not take it lightly with lawbreakers.

    “We arrested 140 cows in Mbala on February 11, 2021, and 70 cows in Gbajimba on February 16, 2021. Altogether, we are handing over 210 cows to their owners today.

    “We cannot stop implementing the law so the herdsmen must learn to follow the right procedure,” Zaki added.

    The release of the cows follows the payment of N2,000 each for the 210 cows with 140 of the animals held for 14 days while 70 of them were held for eight days, amounting to over N5 million revenue into the state coffers.

    Speaking on behalf of the owners of the cows, the secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ibrahim Galma appealed for leniency saying the process of establishing ranches is too technical and scientific for an average Fulani Normad.

    He expressed concern over how to cope if pivot ranches where herders could start up from were not provided for his people.

  • BREAKING: Cross-over night service violators risk N500,000 fine – Lagos Government

    BREAKING: Cross-over night service violators risk N500,000 fine – Lagos Government

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG has that Lagos residents who violate the 12 am to 4 am curfew imposed by the Federal Government and other protocols would be fined up to N500, 000 when caught.

    Recall that the government emphasised that all churches in the state must respect the curfew in place and avoid physical crossover services and large gatherings on December 31, 2020.

    The government stressed that all churches in the state must respect the curfew in place and avoid physical crossover services and large gatherings on December 31, 2020.

    Explaining the the newly imposed fine on violators, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday said: “If you flout any of these rules, you can be fined. You will be taken to court and the magistrate will decide on the sanction. The fine can be between N20,000 and N500,000. It depends on the magistrate’s discretion.

    “But it is not just about punishing people. People are being advised to take responsibility. The regulations were rolled out as an advisory and people have been obeying while people who have disobeyed have faced the consequences.”

    The commissioner, however, expressed optimism that religious leaders in the state would comply with the directive of the government on the crossover services.

    Omotoso said, “With what we have been seeing, I don’t think churches will flout the protocols. CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) is in agreement with the government. Covid cases are going up and everybody is worried. Some of the giant churches have also announced that they won’t be holding physical crossover services.

    “The Lagos State Government has also told them that there is a curfew by midnight to 4am imposed by the Federal Government. Many of the churches have been adjusting their programmes. Churches are well-organised and we believe they will comply.”

  • Hate Speech: IBAN kicks against NBC’s N5m fine

    Hate Speech: IBAN kicks against NBC’s N5m fine

    The Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has kicked against the N5million fine, imposed by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on one of its members, Nigeria Info FM, for allegedly promoting hate speech.

    IBAN in a statement issued yesterday after its emergency board meeting held on Monday, which was signed by its Chairman, Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce, described the commission’s fine as excessive.

    It argued that the fine was a creation of the now disputed amendments to the 6th broadcasting code.

    According to the statement, “While we concede the right to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria to the NBC, we wish to point out some cogent issues that must not be ignored in this instant case.

    “The five million Naira (N5m) fine imposed is excessive, as it is a creation of the now disputed amendments to the 6th broadcasting code.

    “We feel that in the absence of a universal buy into the amendments of the code, it is premature for the management of the commission to implement any aspect of the disputed amendments.”

    IBAN stated that it also believed that the omnibus authority the NBC had arrogated to itself of being the accuser, judge and executioner in these matters fly in the face of the principle of fair hearing.

    It added that the commission’s determination of what amounts to hate speech ought to be verified by an independent body before sanctions were imposed.

    IBAN said: “As it stands now, the commission could on a whim label anything hate speech and then go ahead to impose a fine without the accused having the benefit of a fair hearing.

    “Information available to us points to the existence of the Nigerian Press Council with the mandate to uphold ethical and professional standards in the media, investigate complaints against the press, monitor activities of the press, research on contemporary press development, investigate obstacles to the flow of information, protect the rights and privileges of journalists.

    “In our view, the Nigerian Press Council which is made up of representatives from the following institutions, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, News Agency of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Information, and the general public, is best suited to determine what might amount to a media infraction.”

    However, IBAN recommended that the NBC should refer any alleged infraction of a broadcasting entity to the council for determination before sanctions are imposed.

    It further called on the management of the commission to hold off on imposing any sanctions until the above-stated issues are addressed.

    It also recommended that stakeholders and the management of NBC should enter into another round of consultations and discuss the amendments to the 6th Broadcasting Code as a way forward.

  • Court orders ‘yahoo boy’ to pay N50,000 fine, control traffic for three months

    Court orders ‘yahoo boy’ to pay N50,000 fine, control traffic for three months

    Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin ordered one Kolade Emmanuel Balogun to pay a fine of N50,000 and control traffic for the next three months.

    The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of Kolade who was charged to court for offences bordering on internet fraud.

    The charge against the suspect read;

    “That you, KOLADE BALOGUN (a.k.a Willam Davis, alias Behemoth) sometime in March 2020 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to commit an offence of cheating by impersonation, pretending and representing yourself to be a white man called Willam Davis, alias Behemoth to an unsuspected white woman on dating site called SeekingArrangement as it is contained in your Gmail account: Willamdavis@gmail.com and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.”

    Balogun was found guilty of the charges against him.

    The Judge who sentenced the convict on Thursday, August 13 after he pleaded guilty to the charge against him, said he should pay a fine of N50,000 and control traffic at a junction behind the Kwara State Ministry of Physical Planning for three months commencing from August 17 to October 17, 2020.

    He also ordered that other items like phones and laptops recovered from him, should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

  • Why we increased hate speech fine to N5m – Lai Mohammed

    Why we increased hate speech fine to N5m – Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government says it increased the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5 million in the ammended National Broadcasting Code to deter people who are willingly violating the provision to destabilise the country.
    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the explanation on Friday when he featured on a TVC live Programme, “This Morning”” monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    NAN recalls that the minister in 2019 announced the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the increase of the fine which was later stipulated in the ammended Broadcasting Code.

    “What motivated the ammendment was that when the fine was N500,000 we saw the provision being violated at will because the amount was very easy to pay,” he said.

    The minister explained that some desperate people, who know that their broadcast content contains hate speech, will insist that the broadcast stations should air it while they bear the cost of the fine.

    The minister noted that those attacking the government over the increase, must remember that hate speech had destroyed many countries.

    He recalled that Rwandan lost 800,000 lives to hate speech while Bosnia and Cambodia equally lost thousands of lives to the menace.

    Mohammed said that Nigeria is not the only country to impose sanction on hate speech, adding that some nations have more stringent provisions.

    “Chad has today slow down the speed of its internet service to slow down the growth of hate speech.

    “Iceland has a provision in its penal code against hate speech and the punishment is up to five years in jail.

    “The sanction in Norway is up to two years imprisonment while South Africa separated hate speech from the protection their citizens can get from the constitution,” he said.

    The minister said that hate speech is not new but the social media and its wildfire capacity to spread information made it to be more problematic.

    He, therefore, reiterated the resolve of the government to regulate the social media without stifling the freedom of speech.

  • Naira Marley, manager, fined N100,000 for violating travel ban

    Naira Marley, manager, fined N100,000 for violating travel ban

    The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Lagos State Police Command, has arraigned popular artiste, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and his manager, Seyi Awonuga, before the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Oshodi, for violating the ban on interstate travels.

    The controversial artiste left Lagos for the Federal Capital Territory for a concert on Saturday, June 13, 2020.

    The concert, which held at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja, attracted public outrage.

    The government thereafter shut down the mall and stopped the operation of the airline, whose plane conveyed Naira Marley.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was said to have ordered Naira Marley’s arrest.

    It was learnt that the singer and his manager turned themselves in at the police station on Thursday and were subsequently arrested.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bala Elkana, confirmed the development in a statement.

    He said, “It will be recalled that on June 13, 2020, around 2pm, the suspect, in total violation of the lockdown order, embarked on non-essential travel from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos the same date through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, for a musical concert in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “He was arraigned alongside his manager, Seyi Awonuga, on one count of breach of cessation of movement and interstate travel order made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Regulation 4(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease Emergency (Prevention) Regulation No. 2 of 2020, and committed an offence punishable under Section 58 of the Public Health Law, Ch. P16, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    “The two accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge and were awarded a fine of N100,000 each by the presiding magistrate.”

  • Google hit with record fine for privacy abuses

    Google hit with record fine for privacy abuses

    Google has received a record fine from Belgium’s data protection authority (APD) of 600,000 Euro for not complying with European rules on a person’s “right to be forgotten” online.

    The 600,000 Euro penalty is the largest ever imposed by APD, it said on Tuesday, and more than 10 times bigger than the authority’s previous record penalty.

    Google failed to remove links from its search results to articles which APD said were “obsolete” and damaging to the reputation of a person with a public profile in Belgium.

    The news articles, which appeared in results linked to the person’s name, related to unfounded complaints of harassment.

    Google was “negligent” in deciding not to remove the links, given that the company had evidence that the facts were irrelevant and out of date, APD said.

    Google said it intends to appeal the decision in court, and had worked hard to “strike a sensible, principled balance between people’s rights of access to information and privacy.”

    “We didn’t believe this case met the European Court of Justice’s criteria for delisting published journalism from search — we thought it was in the public’s interest that this reporting remain searchable,” a Google spokesperson said.

    The EU’s top court enshrined the “right to be forgotten” principle in 2014 when it ruled that people could ask search engines like Google to remove inadequate or irrelevant information from web results appearing under searches for their names.

    APD also ordered Google to stop referencing the pages inside Europe, and provide clearer information on which entities are responsible for handling “right to be forgotten” requests.