Is Nigeria Silencing Its Media? SERAP and Editors Take NBC to Court in Landmark Case”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have taken legal action against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), contesting what they describe as an unconstitutional attempt to restrict media freedom in Nigeria.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, follows a controversial directive from the NBC cautioning broadcasters against presenting personal opinions as facts, intimidating guests, or deviating from neutrality.

The NBC justified the move by an increase in violations of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code in recent political and news programming.

However, SERAP and NGE argue that key provisions of the Code are vague, overly broad, and incompatible with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. They warn that such rules could stifle journalistic expression, encourage self-censorship, and weaken democratic discourse—especially in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

The plaintiffs are seeking:

A declaration that the contested provisions violate rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and access to information

An interim injunction preventing the NBC from enforcing the directive or sanctioning broadcasters pending the court’s decision

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) is leading the legal team representing SERAP and NGE.

At its core, this case raises a critical question: Where should the line be drawn between regulation and censorship in a democracy?

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