Court Blocks NBC from Sanctioning Broadcast Stations

On Monday, Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted an interim injunction that restrains the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning broadcast stations for expressing opinions. This decision followed an ex parte application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

The court ruled that the NBC's reliance on vague and overly broad provisions of the Nigeria Broadcast Code was unconstitutional and could lead to self-censorship among journalists. The court has scheduled a hearing for the substantive motion on June 1, 2026.

SERAP and NGE described the ruling as a victory for press freedom and constitutional rights, urging the NBC to comply fully with the court order. They argued that the NBC's actions could undermine democratic debate ahead of the 2027 general elections and create an environment for arbitrary enforcement against media platforms.