The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to the law court for its failure to reverse what SERAP called ‘arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional ban”’on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’.
The case is in suit number FHC/L/CS/797/2025 and was filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
SERAP in the suit sought “an order setting aside the arbitrary and illegal ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’, for being inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”
In the now controversial song, the popular rapper and singer Eedris Abdulkareem allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, consequent upon why the song was prohibited from radio and TV broadcast.
The NBC, while justifying its action, cited the song’s violation of “public decency standards” on radio and TV stations.
SERAP is also seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC whether jointly or severally or any other authority, person or group of persons from preventing the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song on all broadcast stations and other similar media platforms in Nigeria.”
SERAP is also seeking “a declaration that the NBC’s directive, issued via a letter dated 9 April 2025 to all broadcast stations in Nigeria, banning the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song is unlawful and inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”
SERAP argued further that: “The NBC is censoring music under the guise of ‘protecting public decency’. Public decency is not a carte blanche for banning Eedris’ song and placing a chokehold on information and suppressing peaceful dissent.”