Court Blocks NBC’s Attempt To End Contract For Nigeria’s Digital TV Transition

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has instructed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to temporarily halt its efforts to terminate a contract related to Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital television. This order was issued to maintain the current situation regarding the contract until the court resolves a case filed by six dissatisfied companies.

Justice A. A. Ademu, who issued the order, instructed both the NBC and the companies to avoid any actions that could affect the status quo. This measure aims to prevent any irreversible changes that could preempt the court’s decision.

The ex-parte application was brought by six companies involved in a legal dispute with the NBC over the contract. The judge emphasized that, given the ongoing litigation, the NBC must refrain from making any further moves until all issues are fully addressed.

Justice Ademu also transferred the case file to Chief Judge Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf for reassignment to another judge, following the completion of vacation proceedings.

The aggrieved companies, including the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Licensed Set Top Boxes Manufacturers of Nigeria, Gospell Digital Technology Ltd, Digitune Media Technologies, I-Box Engineering, Trefonics Electronics, and Tve-RLG Limited, sought court intervention to prevent the NBC from interfering with or terminating their contract. They requested a halt on NBC’s advertisement for new licenses and the issuance of licenses for the manufacture of set-top boxes until their case is resolved.

The dispute centers on the NBC’s policy shift, which began in 2012, and a recent announcement by the Director General of the NBC about a new government-approved fund for the transition. The companies argue that this new direction undermines their existing contract and the set-top boxes they have already produced.