SERAP and Nigerian Guild of Editors sue NBC over broadcaster-sanctions directive

Sunday, April 26, 2026Rights & JusticeWell-covered3 frames

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission.
The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and is identified as case number FHC/L/CS/854/2026.
The lawsuit challenges an NBC formal notice or directive warning broadcasters and presenters against expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, and failing to maintain neutrality.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to interpret or review provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code that NBC relied on for the warning.
According to multiple reports on the court filings, SERAP and the editors argue that the challenged code provisions are vague or overly broad and conflict with constitutional and international protections for freedom of expression and access to information.
The plaintiffs are also seeking to restrain or prevent NBC from imposing sanctions under the challenged provisions while the case is before the court.
NBC has said its recent action was meant to enforce the Nigeria Broadcasting Code after what it described as a sustained increase in breaches and to reinforce professionalism rather than censor broadcasters.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission.
The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and is identified as case number FHC/L/CS/854/2026.
The lawsuit challenges an NBC formal notice or directive warning broadcasters and presenters against expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, and failing to maintain neutrality.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to interpret or review provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code that NBC relied on for the warning.
According to multiple reports on the court filings, SERAP and the editors argue that the challenged code provisions are vague or overly broad and conflict with constitutional and international protections for freedom of expression and access to information.
The plaintiffs are also seeking to restrain or prevent NBC from imposing sanctions under the challenged provisions while the case is before the court.
NBC has said its recent action was meant to enforce the Nigeria Broadcasting Code after what it described as a sustained increase in breaches and to reinforce professionalism rather than censor broadcasters.