Amnesty International Nigeria has welcomed a Federal High Court ruling that restrains the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from enforcing its controversial sanctions against broadcasters, describing the decision as a significant victory for freedom of expression and media independence.

The organisation made the commendation in a statement on its X handle on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.Justice Daniel Osiagor, on Monday, May 5, 2026, granted an interim injunction ordering the NBC to suspend the implementation of its “Formal Notice” issued on May 2, pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The matter has been adjourned to June 1, 2026.The NBC directive had threatened sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters for allegedly presenting personal opinions as facts, intimidating or bullying guests, or failing to maintain neutrality in programmes.

Amnesty criticised the notice as vague, overly broad, and open to abuse, warning that its enforcement would create a chilling effect on the media and silence critical voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The ruling by Justice Daniel Osiagor marks an important step toward protecting freedom of expression and media independence in Nigeria,” the statement said.

While hailing the interim relief, Amnesty cautioned that the order is not a final judgment and urged the NBC to fully withdraw the directive to prevent further threats to press freedom.

“Amnesty International Nigeria calls on the NBC to withdraw the ‘Formal Notice’ in full and refrain from enforcing similar measures that undermine constitutional and international guarantees of freedom of expression,” it added.

The rights group further called on Nigerian authorities to allow journalists and broadcasters to perform their duties without intimidation or undue regulatory interference.

…Labels It Academic Fraud.

The Federal Government has prohibited recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” in official, academic, or professional contexts, describing the practice as a misrepresentation of academic credentials that will henceforth be treated as academic fraud.

The government warned that violators will face legal and reputational consequences.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was joined by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, made the announcement following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a new uniform policy on the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities.

The policy, which was approved at the FEC meeting on April 30 but not publicly announced at the time, aims to standardize the conferment of honorary degrees and curb the abuse of academic titles.

Under the new guidelines, honorary doctorates will no longer confer the right to the “Dr” prefix, distinguishing them clearly from earned doctoral degrees.

The move is part of broader efforts to restore integrity to Nigeria’s higher education system and prevent the public from being misled about individuals’ academic qualifications.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from threatening, sanctioning, or punishing broadcast stations and presenters for expressing personal opinions, “bullying or intimidating” guests, or failing to maintain neutrality.

Hon. Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the interim injunction on Monday following an ex-parte application by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

The court order prevents the NBC from enforcing certain provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code that the two organisations described as vague, overly broad, and unconstitutional.

In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/854/2026, SERAP and NGE are challenging the NBC’s use of the Code to penalise broadcasters for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts or failing to remain neutral. They argue that such provisions violate Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.

The organisations, through their counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, contend that freedom of expression includes opinions, commentary, and analysis, and that journalism without opinion is “neither practical nor democratic.”

Reacting to the ruling in a joint statement on Tuesday, SERAP and NGE described it as “a landmark victory for freedom of expression, media freedom, and the rule of law in Nigeria.”

“This is a significant victory. The court’s decision to restrain the NBC from enforcing these vague and overly broad provisions affirms that regulatory powers must be exercised within constitutional limits,” the statement said.

Justice Osiagor ordered the NBC, its officials, agents, and privies to refrain from imposing any fines, sanctions, or penalties on broadcasters based on the contested provisions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

SERAP and NGE warned that if left unchecked, the NBC’s approach could severely undermine media freedom and public debate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“A free, independent, and vibrant media is essential to credible elections. Any attempt to silence critical voices or restrict open debate undermines the public’s right to information,” they said.

The organisations urged the NBC to comply with the court order and review its regulatory framework to align with constitutional guarantees and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations under the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

They also called on Nigerian authorities to create an enabling environment for journalists to operate without fear of intimidation or censorship.