The National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has been sued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for what it called the “arbitrary and unlawful” prohibition of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa.”
Journalists were given access to a statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director of SERAP, on Sunday.
Due to suspected violations of “public decency standards,” the song—which was purportedly critical of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies—was prohibited from airing.
In the case filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos under the filing number FHC/L/CS/797/2025, SERAP is requesting an order to invalidate NBC’s directive, arguing that it violates the rights to media freedom, information access, and freedom of expression.
Additionally, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC — whether jointly or severally — or any other authority, person, or group of persons from preventing the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song on all broadcast stations and similar media platforms in Nigeria” is what SERAP is requesting.
Furthermore, SERAP is requesting “a declaration that NBC’s directive, issued via a letter dated April 9, 2025, to all broadcast stations in Nigeria banning the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, is unlawful and inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”
Oluwadare and two other lawyers filed the lawsuit, claiming that the ban violates both Nigerian and international rules on freedom of expression and does not pass the necessity and proportionality standards.
SERAP added, “Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is overbroad and excessively intrusive, as it breaches the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”
The group argued that censorship suppresses social discussions and erodes democratic ideals, whereas artistic expression is essential to democratic discourse.
“The ban on Eedris’ song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
“The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ is not used as a pretext to ban Eedris’ song and unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ human rights,” SERAP stated.
The statement added, “Article 19(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information, regardless of frontiers.”
“Under Article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals’” it stated.
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