Clip from 'This is Nigeria'
Three months after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) placed a ban on Falz the Bahd Guy's 'This is Nigeria' and sanctioned a radio station in Jos, JODAJ Global Communications Limited for playing the song, the singer has finally decided to take legal steps by seeking redress in court for the damages done to him and his brand due to the ban.
According to the court document filed on the 6th of November through Falz's lawyers Adepetun Caxton-Martin Agbor & Segun (ACAS-Law), the president of the Sweet Boys Association queried the National Broadcasting Commission's claim that his song, 'This is Nigeria' which highlights the socio-political ills of the nation, has any vulgar lyrics in it, further stating through his lawyers that banning this song with no proof to claim "is in flagrant breach of the Plaintiff’s right to the freedom of thought, conscience and expression as guaranteed under the Nigerian laws."
In addition to the proof of claim, Falz, through his lawyer demanded one hundred million (100,000,000) naira for damages done to him and his brand, stating that it was a wrong and unconstitutional act of the Defendant.
Find the details of the lawsuit containing some of Falz's demands below;
1. A declaration that the Defendant’s prohibition of the Plaintiff’s song titled “This Is Nigeria” from being aired by the Nigerian media outfits on the pretext that same is laced with vulgar lyrics is in flagrant breach of the Plaintiff’s right to the freedom of thought, conscience and expression as guaranteed under Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and to that extent, such prohibition is unconstitutional, null and void.
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2. An Order of this Honourable Court setting aside and/or vacating the decision of the Defendant as contained in the letter dated 6th August 2018 and lifting the ban or proscription of the use of the Plaintiff’s song titled, “This Is Nigeria” by any and all Nigerian media outfit/organizations.
3. The sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira to the Plaintiff on the footing of aggravated and exemplary damages for the wrongful and unconstitutional acts of the Defendant.
This act of filing a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission for banning an artiste's work is quite rare in the entertainment industry, but it is no surprise coming from Falz who is not only a lawyer but simply keeping to his words as he had earlier revealed in an interview that he will be seeking justification for the banning of his song and if he finds no proof to these claims of vulgar lyric, then he'll go ahead to sue the National Broadcasting Commission.
See the court document below;
The ban placed on This is Nigeria in August 2018 was also placed on other songs from other Nigerian artistes.
Listen to the audio: "This is Nigeria" by Falz
