By our reporter 6.6.2026
A Federal High Court in Lagos has put the brakes on the drive by the National Broadcasting Commission to streamline broadcast media in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NBC had recently cautioned broadcast stations and presenters to tone down their opinion when interviewing guests, refrain from intimidating or bullying guests and must maintain neutrality in political discussions. The NBC said it would sanction media organisations and presenters who flout the directive.
But the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors dragged the NBC to court for impinging on press freedom and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
SERAP and NGE argued that journalism inherently includes opinion, insisting that “the right to impart ideas necessarily includes opinions, commentary and analysis,” which are central to democratic discourse.
Presiding judge Justice Daniel Osiagor granted an interim injunction the NBC from enforcing the code barring media from injecting their opinions or armtwisting their guests.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: THAT AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION is granted restraining the Defendant, its Officers, agents, privies, assigns, associates or any other person or group of persons from enforcing, imposing sanctions, or levying fines on any broadcasting station based on the provisions of Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1 (b), 3.4.1 (b), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1 (f), 3.11.1 (b), and 5.5.1(b) of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for an order of interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously in this suit,” the court ruled.
The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.