SERAP and NGE Sue NBC Over Broadcast Sanction Threats

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have initiated legal action against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in the Federal High Court in Lagos, filing suit number FHC/L/CS/854/2026 on April 24, 2026. The lawsuit challenges the NBC's recent directive warning broadcasters against expressing personal opinions and intimidating guests, which SERAP and NGE argue is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful.

They contend that the NBC's reliance on vague provisions of the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcast Code constitutes a breach of freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. The plaintiffs assert that the NBC's actions threaten to suppress democratic engagement and create a chilling effect on journalists, leading to self-censorship.

They seek a declaration that certain provisions of the broadcast code are unconstitutional and an injunction to restrain the NBC from enforcing sanctions based on these provisions. The legal team is led by human rights lawyer Femi Falana.