AIT resumes broadcast operations after court ruling

African Independent Television (AIT) has resumed its broadcast operations late Friday after being shut down by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The NBC withdrew the operating license of Daar Communications, operator of AIT and other broadcast stations managed by the firm.

The withdrawal came hours after Raymond Dokpesi, founder of the firm led a protest against the government and the regulatory body accusing them of the high handedness in deploying all instruments of power to threaten, intimidate and harass the organisation due to his political affiliation with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The television station is accused of broadcasting unedited user-generated contents from the social media against the federal government.

But at the hearing of the case at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the court ordered the reversal of the withdrawn licence which paves way for the reopening of the television station.

It also ruled that status quo as at May 30 when the case was filled be maintained pending the determination of the case.

The court adjourned sitting to June 13.