The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over its controversial ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa,” which critiques President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
The NBC had prohibited the song from airing on radio and television, claiming it violated “public decency standards” and was “objectionable.” However, SERAP, in its suit (FHC/L/CS/797/2025) filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, argues that the ban unlawfully restricts freedom of expression, media freedom, and Nigerians’ right to access information.
The lawsuit, filed on April 11, 2025, seeks:
– An immediate reversal of the NBC’s ban.
– A permanent injunction barring the commission or any government agency from censoring the song.
SERAP contends that the NBC’s April 9 directive is unconstitutional and contradicts Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Key Arguments by SERAP:
– Freedom of expression includes political dissent, even if it offends or shocks authorities.
– Artistic expression fuels democratic debate, and banning such works stifles public discourse.
– The NBC failed to prove that the song threatens national interests more than the public’s right to information.
“The ban sets a dangerous precedent for censorship under the vague guise of ‘public decency,’” SERAP stated. “Suppressing critical music undermines democracy and violates Nigeria’s commitments to free speech.”
No hearing date has been set yet. The case could set a major precedent for artistic freedom and government accountability in Nigeria.
