A Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed the withdrawal of the operating licence of DAAR Communications Plc by the National Broadcasting Commission over alleged breach of the nation’s broadcasting code.

Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday ordered the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Attorney General of the Federation to revert back to state of affairs before May 30, 2019.

The judge asked the parties to appear before the court on Thursday, June 13 to show cause why the motion on notice challenging the action of the regulatory agency should not be granted.

In an ex parte application brought by its lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), DAAR communications Plc, the operators of African Independent Television (AIT), Raypower FM, Faaji FM and Daarsat had on Thursday asked the court to order a return to the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the main suit.

The NBC had in a letter dated May 27, 2019 accused the media company of breaching the Nigerian Broadcasting Code with its programmes and subsequently withdrew its licence.

In the suit against the NBC, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Attorney General of the Federation, DAAR claimed that it had since the approval of its television and radio stations been conducting its operations in line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution.

It therefore asked the court to make an order ‘restraining the defendants from blocking, jamming, stopping, removing from air and/or interfering with the air waves of the plaintiff/applicant (DAAR Plc) in any way and manner’.

The plaintiff further asked the court to restrain the defendants from invading the premises of the plaintiff/applicant or closing down, viet armis, the said premises, its operations or broadcast services, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.

Enumerating the grounds for the action, DAAR Plc said the defendants had on April 16 in a gestapo style invaded its premises and pulled down two buildings and gates worth millions of naira which lead to its operational office in Asokoro, Abuja.