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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has announced plans to initiate legal action against the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the prohibition of veteran musician Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest song, “Tell Your Papa.”
SERAP criticized the ban as an unjustifiable limitation on artistic freedom, claiming that the song's exploration of urgent national matters, including economic difficulties, constitutes a legitimate exercise of the artist’s right to free expression.
The organization called on the Bola Tinubu-led administration and NBC to overturn the ban on Abdulkareem’s single within 48 hours, warning that failure to do so would lead to potential legal proceedings.
This ultimatum was issued only a day after NBC expressed its disapproval of the song and prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from broadcasting it.
In an official memo signed by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission labeled the song Not To Be Broadcasted, referencing Section 3.1.8 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which bans content considered offensive or contrary to public decency.
In a letter posted on its official social media channels, SERAP threatened to sue the Bola Tinubu-led government and NBC unless swift action is taken to lift the ban.
The organization stated, "The Tinubu administration must promptly undo the unlawful prohibition imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission, which prevents Nigerian radio and TV stations from playing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single. We will take legal action if the ban is not revoked within 48 hours."
Previously, Amnesty International termed the Federal Government’s action against the artist as strange, emphasizing that it constitutes an abuse of power and is unacceptable.
The human rights group highlighted that the ban underscores the urgent need to repeal stringent censorship laws of the NBC that have been leveraged to restrict freedom of expression in the nation.
"This crackdown on artistic freedom is a distressing reminder that artists are at risk of being silenced. No justification can be found for stifling creative freedom."
They added, "It is not too late for President Bola Tinubu’s administration to rescind the ban, which would only serve to promote censorship and instigate a new wave of fear regarding repression."
