The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regarding its ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa,” which allegedly criticizes the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
TheNewsGuru recalls that the NBC prohibited the song from being aired on radio and television, citing its “objectionable nature” and a violation of “public decency standards.”
However, SERAP contends that the ban is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional. In the lawsuit numbered FHC/L/CS/797/2025 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP seeks an order to nullify the ban, arguing that it is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. The organization is also requesting a permanent injunction to prevent the NBC or any other authority from blocking the song from being aired on broadcast platforms throughout Nigeria.
According to SERAP, the NBC’s directive issued on April 9 to all broadcast stations to ban the song is unlawful and incompatible with both constitutional and international human rights standards.
The organization asserts that censorship under the guise of “protecting public decency” cannot justify the suppression of dissent or political commentary.
The organisatio stresses that freedom of expression includes not only agreeable ideas but also those that challenge, shock, or disturb. It argues the ban has a chilling effect on artistic freedom and public discourse, noting that the NBC has not demonstrated any specific harm that the song might cause to legitimate state interests.
The group also challenges Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, describing it as overbroad and excessively intrusive. It argues that vague standards like “objectionable content” and “public decency” should not serve as pretexts for suppressing music critical of government policies.
Filed on behalf of SERAP by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Valentina Adegoke, the suit insists that all individuals have the right to freedom of expression and artistic creativity. The ban, they argue, fails to meet legal standards of necessity and proportionality.
Art, SERAP notes, plays a vital role in democratic societies by fostering dialogue, counter-narratives, and reflection on societal issues. Suppressing such expression stifles debate and undermines democracy.
The organization maintains that NBC’s action violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Article 19 of the ICCPR protects the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas in any form, including art. SERAP warns that unjustified censorship not only harms artists but also weakens public engagement, artistic livelihoods, and democratic culture.