By Nkechi Eze
The leadership of the Arewa Broadcast Media Owners and Practitioners Forum has firmly distanced itself from an alleged class action suit purportedly instituted against Arewa 24 Television and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), clarifying that the association has no involvement whatsoever in the legal action.
In a statement issued in response to what it described as an avalanche of calls and inquiries from concerned members and stakeholders, the Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, Ajiyan Yauri, said the leadership found it necessary to address the growing speculation surrounding the matter in order to set the record straight.
According to him, the Forum was neither consulted nor briefed on the purported court action and did not authorize any individual or group to act on its behalf in instituting such a suit. “We wish to state categorically that our Forum is in no way or shape involved in or briefed about the purported court action against Arewa 24 and our national regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission,” Yelwa said.
He stressed that as a body comprising broadcast media owners and practitioners across the Northern Region, the Forum does not align itself with any action capable of undermining the lawful operations of industry players. He added that the association has consequently disassociated itself completely from the alleged suit, emphasizing its longstanding commitment to professionalism, fairness, and lawful practice within the broadcast industry.
“As a Forum of Broadcast Media Owners and Practitioners, we disassociate our Forum from this legal action, and uphold the right of any industry player in the region to practice his trade unhinged, according to the law and regulatory dictates,” the chairman stated.
Yelwa further explained that the Arewa Broadcast Media Owners and Practitioners Forum is a legally registered association established to promote the growth of the broadcast industry and uphold professional standards across the Northern Region. He noted that the Forum has consistently advocated an enabling environment where broadcast outlets can thrive within the framework of existing laws and regulations.
Reiterating the Forum’s balanced position, he said the association supports the right of all broadcast outlets to exist and operate lawfully, while also recognizing and respecting the statutory mandate of the National Broadcasting Commission as the industry regulator. “We support the right of all broadcast outlets to exist and practice their trade lawfully. We also uphold the right of NBC to regulate our industry according to our laws,” he said.
The Forum’s leadership expressed hope that its clarification would put to rest any confusion regarding its stance on the matter and reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement, industry harmony, and the continued development of broadcasting in the region.
