An Abuja Federal High Court has the ordered the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to maintain status quo on the shutdown of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM pending a hearing on June 13, 2019.
DAAR communications had earlier filed a motion seeking an ex parte order of interim injunction in its favour restraining the NBC, whether by themselves or their agents from interfering in their operations on television, radio or social media pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.
In the suit against the NBC, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Attorney General of the Federation, the company claimed that it had since the licence of its television and radio stations been conducting its operations in line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution.
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According to Daar Communications, the present government has placed it under close surveillance and undue monitoring due to the belief that the plaintiff/applicant had been too supportive of the immediate past government.
The company cited an April 16, 2019 incident when agents of the Federal Government represented by the 1st defendant, in a Gestapo- like- manner, attacked and pulled down the two buildings and gates leading to the plaintiff/applicants operational headquarters which damage and destruction run into hundreds of millions of naira.
In his ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned to June 13, 2019, for NBC to show the cause why the reliefs sort by DAAR communications should not be granted.