The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim injunction restraining the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning or threatening broadcast stations and presenters over controversial code provisions regarding personal opinions and neutrality.
Hon. Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an interim injunction stopping the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from using its “Formal Notice” to threaten or punish broadcast stations and presenters. The ruling, delivered on Monday, prevents the regulatory body from penalizing media houses for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying guests, or failing to maintain neutrality. The court’s intervention follows an ex-parte motion filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), who challenged the NBC’s actions as an “arbitrary and unlawful attempt” to stifle free speech.
The legal challenge, argued by Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, seeks to determine if the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code cited by the NBC are inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and international human rights obligations. Justice Osiagor ordered that the NBC and its agents be restrained from imposing fines or penalties based on contested provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code until the substantive suit is heard. The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice, effectively shielding broadcasters from regulatory intimidation during the intervening period.
In a joint statement following the ruling, SERAP and the NGE hailed the decision as a landmark victory for the Nigerian media landscape. “This is a significant victory for freedom of expression, media freedom, and the rule of law in Nigeria. The court’s decision to restrain the NBC from enforcing these vague and overly broad provisions affirms the fundamental principle that regulatory powers must be exercised within constitutional limits,” the organizations stated. The statement, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and NGE General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, emphasized that regulatory bodies must operate within the framework of the law rather than acting as a tool for censorship.
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