The NBC has come under criticism in the last few years over what is widely seen as its increasingly strangling restrictions on broadcast stations. But because they could not deliver their judgement before their exit, parties to the suit had to make their final submission before the new panel.Īpart from Ms Atoki, the two other judges on the panel are Sengu Mohamed Koroma and Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves. The matter had been adjourned for judgement before the exit of the two judges. He urged the court to dismiss the case describing the allegations as unfounded and speculative as the NGO did not establish that it suffered from the alleged violation.Įarlier on 2 May, the presiding judge, Ms Atoki, had informed both parties of a change in the panel of judges following the replacement of two judges whose tenure in the court had ended. He said, for instance, a person or organisation cannot commit slander or libel under the pretext of exercising freedom of expression. He said the right to freedom of speech is not absolute and can be curtailed as opposed to under appropriate circumstances. He added that the Nigerian Constitution makes provisions for sufficient safeguards for human rights.
