The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to, without delay, instruct the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to withdraw the newly amended National Broadcasting Code.
SERAP in a series of tweets on its verified handle on Sunday, said it communicated the request to the president through a letter on Saturday.
The body also asked Buhari to order Mohammed and the NBC to reverse the N5m Fine imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM following reported comments by a former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Obadiah Malafia, during an interview.
According to the tweets, SERAP gave the president seven days within which to act, failure of which, it will head to court.
READ ALSO: FG’s Reviewed Broadcast Code Will Muzzle Media, Conceal APC’s Corruption – PDP
The tweet read: “We’ve asked President Buhari to urgently instruct Mr Lai Mohammed & NBC to withdraw the apparently illegal codes & memo threatening to sanction any broadcast that denigrates, disrespects, insults, and abuses president, governors, lawmakers, elders & leaders in authority. In the letter sent yesterday (Saturday), we asked President Buhari to instruct Mr Mohammed and NBC to immediately rescind the fine of N5m imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM radio station, following reported comments by a former Deputy Governor of the CBN , Obadiah Malafia, during an interview.
“The letter read, “Rather than pushing to enforce a culture to respect president, govs, lawmakers, elders, leaders, Mr Muhammed & NBC should use their entrusted public office & mandates to promote a culture of public debate, access to information, transparency and accountability.
“Nothing can be more destructive to people’s exercise of basic human rights, and to democratic politics than the suppression of the media, and media freedom. The alleged “cultural codes” are patently contrary to the public interests.
“We would be grateful if the requested action and measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you on the requests by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you in the public interest.”
