NEWS
SERAP Drags FG To Court Over Unlawful Ban On Eedris’ ‘Tell Your Papa’ Song
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over “failure to reverse the arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’.”
The song, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was prohibited from radio and TV broadcast over its “objectionable nature”.
The NBC stood its decision on the song’s violation of “public decency standards” on radio and TV stations.
However, in the suit number FHC/L/CS/797/2025 filed last Thursday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “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.”
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The SERAP is 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.”
The 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.”
In the suit, the SERAP is arguing 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.”
The SERAP is arguing that, “Freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society and extends not only to information or ideas that are favourably received, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb in such domains as political discourse and commentary on public affairs.”
The SERAP is also arguing that, “The ban on Eedris’ song has a chilling effect on freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom. The NBC has not shown that the song would impose a specific risk of harm to a legitimate State interest that outweighs the public interest in the information provided by the song.”
According to the SERAP, “Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is overbroad and excessively intrusive, as it breaches the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.”
The suit filed on behalf of the SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “All persons enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and creativity and to enjoy the arts.
“The ban on Eedris’ song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
“The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ are not used as a pretext to ban Eedris’ song and unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ human rights.
“Expressions, whether artistic or not, always remain protected under the right to freedom of expression. The NBC directive is also inconsistent and incompatible with the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity.
“Art constitutes an important vehicle for each person, individually and in community with others, as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity. Artists may entertain people, but they also contribute to social debates, sometimes bringing counter-discourses and potential counterweights to existing power centres.
“The vitality of artistic creativity is necessary for the functioning of democratic societies. Banning or removing creative expressions from public access is a way to restrict artistic freedom.
“It is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations to use vague and overly broad grounds of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ as justifications to ban Eedris’ song.
“The action by the NBC is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional, as it is contrary to the provisions of section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression. The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role.
“While the media may be subject to some restrictions necessary for the protection of certain vital interests of the state, such as national security or public health, the media has a role and responsibility to convey information and ideas on political issues, even divisive ones and the public has a right to receive them.
“Article 19(2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, states that the right to freedom of expression includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds ‘in the form of art’.
“The effects of art censorship or unjustified restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity are devastating. They generate important social and economic losses, deprive artists of their means of expression and livelihood, create an unsafe environment for all those engaged in the arts and their audiences.
“Restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression also sterilize debates on human, social and political issues and hamper the functioning of democracy.
“Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers.
“Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals’.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Thursday commissioned the 3.5km phase one of the Ila township road dualisation.
This was revealed in a government house statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday.
Speaking at the commission exercise, the Governor noted that the dual carriage is more than a road but a lifeline for commerce, mobility and safety for the people adding that the project alongside other township roads, market and health facility shows that this administration believes that development must get to the grassroots.
He added that his administration is opening Ila to more investments, easier movement of farm produce and better access to schools, hospitals and the palace.
“The dual carriage is more than a road. It is a lifeline for commerce, mobility and safety for the people. This project alongside other township roads, market and health facility shows that this Administration believes that development must get to the grass roots. Ila is a historic town, it is a center of learning, culture and commerce.
“With this dualised road, we are opening Ila to more investment, easier movement of farm produce and better access to schools, hospitals and the palace.
“We also know that this road connects Ila to other town, that is why we are also working on Intercity Roads to ensure Ila is not left behind in the Osun infrastructure agenda. Apart from this dual carriageway, my administration has equally completed over 7km length of intracity roads in Ila Orangun.”
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Earlier, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Tokunbo Salam stated that Gov Adeleke’s era is a landmark one. An era that will be hard to forget in the history of Osun State. He added that the road was constructed within 12 months as mandated by the Governor.
“Your Excellency, You will recall that, 12 months, 2 days ago, you were here to flag off this road and you gave us a mandate at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure that we have to finish this road within 12 months and we are here today for the commissioning of this road.
“Your Excellency, I believe people are counting because this is one of several projects and they are still counting. Your excellency, your era is a landmark era and era that will be hard to forget in the history of Osun State. What we have commissioned today never happened and in many other places never happened and history will never forget.
“What is happening is described as urban renewal and as we are renewing, this is the first phase of the road and the second phase of the road will be pronounced by His Excellency and I know that by the time he comes back for his second term, total transformation will come to Ila”, he stated.
Briefly describing the project before its commissioning, Director of Research and Planning, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr Olalekan Salami explained that the Governor gave an approval for a 10km road to be executed in three phases, 3.5km for phase 1 and 2 and 3km for phase 3.
He said, “Your Excellency, you approved that the dualisation of Ila road should be 10km in length and phased into three and you gave us a mandate that the first phase be delivered within 12 months.
“Exactly 21st of July 2025, we were here to flag off this road, and we are here today 23rd of July 2026 for the commissioning of the first phase which is 3.5km”
“It is the intention of the Governor that this road will lead to the Federal University of Health Sciences, first phase of 3.5km is completed within 12 months, another 3.5km will be completed within the next 12 months and the last one will be 3km to complete the 10km dual carriageway.”
The Commissioning was witnessed by the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Olukayode Oyedotun (Bibiire I), Members of the Imole Campaign Council as well as other members of the Executive Council and party Chieftains.
Former adult film actress Deyci Alejandra Omaña Ortiz, popularly known by her stage name Amaranta Hank, has made history after being sworn in as a senator in Colombia, becoming one of the country’s most talked-about political figures.
Ortiz secured the Senate seat following her victory in Colombia’s March elections on the platform of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition, where she campaigned for greater rights and legal protections for workers in the adult entertainment industry.
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According to Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, the newly inaugurated lawmaker will represent the Norte de Santander region during the 2026–2030 parliamentary term after placing 23rd on the coalition’s closed electoral list.
The Historic Pact emerged as the country’s strongest political force in the election, winning 22.72 per cent of the Senate vote—more than 4.4 million ballots—to secure 25 seats, according to Colombia’s National Registry.
Before entering politics, Ortiz worked as a journalist before transitioning into the adult film industry. She has maintained that her previous career should not define her ability to serve in public office.
Responding to critics who questioned her suitability for office, Ortiz defended her candidacy in a TikTok video, saying:
“¿Por qué una mujer que estuvo en la industria para adultos no puede aspirar a un cargo de elección popular?”
The statement translates to: “Why can’t a woman who was in the adult industry aspire to a popularly elected office?”
According to Infobae Colombia, Ortiz believes women who have worked in the sexual economy make meaningful contributions to the country’s economy and deserve legal recognition instead of continued stigma.
Born in the city of Cúcuta, the senator said her legislative agenda will also focus on mental health, sexual abuse prevention, and broader social welfare reforms.
Her political rise follows months of public debate after she and fellow former adult film performer Juan Carlos Florián were appointed to positions in President Gustavo Petro’s Ministry of Equality, a move that sparked widespread discussion in Colombia.
Ortiz’s swearing-in marks one of the most closely watched moments in Colombian politics in recent years, with supporters describing it as a victory for inclusion and equal opportunity, while critics continue to question her unconventional path to public office.
A South African court has ordered a temporary halt to impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the controversial $580,000 Phala Phala farm cash scandal, pending the outcome of his legal challenge against an earlier investigative report.
The Western Cape High Court ruled on Friday in favour of Ramaphosa, granting his request to suspend the parliamentary impeachment process while the court reviews a November 2022 independent panel report that concluded the president “may have committed” serious violations and misconduct.
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In his ruling, Judge Andre le Grange ordered that Parliament’s impeachment committee must not proceed with public hearings until the judicial review has been concluded.
“Pending the determination by this court of the applicant’s review… respondents are interdicted from proceeding with a public impeachment hearing,” the judge ruled.
The controversy dates back to a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s luxury Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo Province, where thieves allegedly stole $580,000 hidden inside a sofa.
Ramaphosa has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he reported the break-in to the police and that the money was the legitimate proceeds from the sale of 20 buffaloes.
The complaint was filed by a former South African intelligence chief and one-time ally of former President Jacob Zuma.
The complainant alleged that Ramaphosa concealed the robbery from both police and tax authorities and claimed the amount involved was as much as $4 million.
Despite mounting pressure from opposition parties demanding accountability, Ramaphosa has repeatedly ruled out resigning over the scandal.
Reacting to Friday’s ruling, the South African president reaffirmed his commitment to the country’s constitutional principles and judicial system.
“The President will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability,” a statement from his office said, adding that he remains committed to respecting the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers.
The impeachment process had initially been rejected by South Africa’s National Assembly, where Ramaphosa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) held a parliamentary majority, effectively blocking impeachment proceedings at the time.
Although prosecutors dropped related charges in 2024, the Constitutional Court overturned Parliament’s earlier decision in May 2026, paving the way for the establishment of a parliamentary impeachment committee.
If the impeachment proceedings eventually resume, Ramaphosa would become the first sitting South African president to face such a process.
The High Court is expected to hear his application seeking to overturn the 2022 independent panel report in September.
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