Mailafia: Real hate speech is when you deny Nigerians free speech — CSJ slams NBC over fine against Radio Station

The recent statement by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, during a ‘Morning Crossfire’ programme on Nigeria Info Abuja 95. 1 FM on Monday, has raised huge dusts when he disclosed that Nigeria's terror group Boko Haram, is sponsored by a serving Governor in the North, and that while Nigerians were forced to stay home due to covid-19, powers that be, took advantage of the situation to distribute the terror group across the country with 2023 in mind.


As reactions continue to trail Mailafia's statements, the oppressive machineries of the Buhari administration took to task by swiftly inviting Mailafia for interrogation, while the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on its own part, slammed its newly upgraded fine of N5 million on the FM Radio station which hosted the former CBN deputy governor. But the action of the NBC has attracted condemnation.

In reaction to the fine against the Radio station, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, said what is happening is an attempt to gag freedom of speech, and expression as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.



“It is an infringement on the right to hold an opinion because it is clearly wrong to impose a fine for an offence which is unknown to the constitution.

“If the radio programme was live, it means that whatever was said was said on the spur of the moment, which means that there was no opportunity for the radio station to vet it.

“In that case it is the person who said it that should be fined. And we are not aware that he has been charged for any offence,” Onyekpere said.

Also reacting, Ali Zubairu Esq condemned the fine imposed on the radio station, saying it was unconstitutional and an action likely to fold up the station.




“We need to examine whether hate speech is actually defined as an offence under the law and what constitutes hate speech,” he said.

He said since Mailafia did not incite violence, his comments may be viewed as advice or opinion which has to be investigated. He added that harassing him would discourage others who may want to give advice or opinion on national issues.

“The minister of information cannot be the law giver, interpreter and executor. For somebody expressing himself, the radio station cannot be fined since Mailafia did not recant his statement that he met some Boko Haram ex-commanders, although he admitted that some of the claims were not verified. It means he still stands by those statements,” he said.


“What he said is why the Northern governors are saying ‘investigate this further’. Where is the hate speech there? So, these are some of the questions begging for answers.”

Meanwhile, the N5 million was recently announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as the new fine for hate speech from N500, 000 in the NBC Code.

The minister said the fine was to deter people who seek to destabilise the country.



Nigeria Info may become the first organization to be penalized under the amended NBC Code.