Despite Video Evidence, Lai Mohammed Denies Announcement Of N5M Hate Speech Fine

The Minister of Information & Culture, Lai Mohammed has denied that he announced an increment in the hate speech fine from N500,000 to N5M even when video evidence establishes to the contrary.

The Minister stated this through a counter-affidavit in response to a suit filed by Human Rights Activist, Inibehe Effiong before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that Mr. Inibehe had earlier filed an action challenging the legality of the N5M fine imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, and the threat by the National Broadcasting Commission to punish other broadcast stations over alleged hate speech.

However, the Minister has denied the said increment in the affidavit deposed to by one Sunday Ojobo, Litigation Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

“Paragraph 19 is denied. The 2nd defendant (Mohammed) did not announce an increment in any fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5,000,000 or any other because there is a governmental body or institution mandated to regulate and enforce the Nigerian Broadcasting Code”, he said.

In addition, the Minister contends that the NBC Act gives the Commission the vires to sanction stations that violate the Code.

Besides, it was contended that the Claimant lacks the competence to challenge the action because he is not adversely affected in anyway whatsoever by the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

Also, the Minister argued that human rights can be derogated from in the national interest.