NBC Appeals Injunction Blocking Broadcasting Code Enforcement

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has appealed a Federal High Court ruling restraining it from enforcing parts of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code used to sanction broadcast stations and presenters over alleged bias and failure to maintain neutrality. The appeal followed an interim injunction granted by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which stopped the commission from using a recently issued Formal Notice to threaten, sanction or punish broadcasters for expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality. 

In its Notice of Appeal dated May 8, 2026, the NBC expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision and asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to set aside the ruling, stating that the trial court failed to evaluate the evidence on record and consider the submissions before granting the application as prayed.

The ruling was delivered following an ex parte motion filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, with the case argued on their behalf by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide Fusika. Justice Osiagor granted an interim injunction restraining the NBC from enforcing specific sections of the code pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

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Reacting to the appeal, SERAP and the Nigerian Guild of Editors maintained that the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds, stating that journalistic opinion is protected expression. The groups disclosed that they have instructed their lawyers to immediately take all necessary legal steps to respond to NBC’s Notice of Appeal and to vigorously defend the decision of the Federal High Court.