AIT, NTA, BON Has Been Barred From Airing Anti-Osinbajo Video

A federal high court sitting in Lagos has restrained Africa Independent television (AIT), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) against airing any damaging video against APC presidential candidate Yemi Osinbajo.

AIT and NTA in the last few weeks has aired documentary detailing ‘atrocities’ of General Buhari and APC Chieftian Bola Tinubu. There were reports that the media outfits were also planning to air damaging video against Osinbajo before the restraining court order. 

“Osinbajo said such video would damaged his “guaranteed and protected fundamental right to life and/or livelihood; right to dignity of human person, and right to privacy and family by virtue of Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as Amended).” He also said the planned “publication, dissemination and broadcast of a video documentary containing untrue information and injurious falsehood” about his personal circumstance, family life, communication and privacy constituted “an immediate and imminent risk of violation of his constitutional right to life, livelihood, dignity of human person and right to privacy”. “Unless the respondents are restrained in the manner requested in this application, the potential publication, dissemination or broadcast of untrue information and injurious false statements and image regarding the applicant will irreparably violate and/or damage the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to livelihood and privacy guaranteed and protected under Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as Amended),” read the originating summons. “Damages will be grossly inadequate to compensate or redress the unquantifiable, unwarranted and malicious damage to the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to livelihood and privacy guaranteed and protected under Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as Amended).”

On Wednesday, the matter commenced with originating summons taken out by Femi Falana (SAN), Abimobola Ojenike and Fidel Albert. Granting the restraining order, Justice James Tsoho said no video should be aired and the status quo should be maintained until the determination of the substantive suit.”