NSS scandal: Authority files second injunction against The Fourth Estate’s exposé

The National Service Authority (NSA) has gone to court for the second time seeking to secure another injunction to prevent The Fourth Estate from publishing a series of investigative stories scheduled for release this month.

The officials of the Authority say should the court allow the Media Foundation for West Africa’s accountability journalism project, The Fourth Estate, to publish an investigation it conducted into its activities without hearing its side of the story, it would suffer “irreparable harm”.

“That the reputations of the applicant [NSA] and its management will be soiled if the respondents [MFWA and others] are allowed to proceed with their threatened publication and if it later turns out to be a false story, the injury and reputational damage occasioned cannot be reversed,” the NSA prayed the court.

The Fourth Estate has repeatedly communicated its willingness to engage NSA officials, offering them the opportunity to provide their perspective on the investigative findings. These efforts included official letters, in-person engagements, and telephone calls.  However, the NSA officials have been feet-dragging, and instead, have opted for legal means to block the publications.

On December 2, 2024, about 12 hours before the first publication, a court bailiff served the Media Foundation for West Africa, the organization that runs The Fourth Estate project, with an injunction from the High Court.

This followed The Fourth Estate’s announcement that it would be publishing a series of investigative reports on the NSA.  However, the NSA filed an injunction application on December 2 and secured a court order on the blind side of The Fourth Estate to prevent the publication.

The 10-day injunction expired on December 12, 2024, but the NSA officials have returned to court for a legal tussle. This time around, the Authority is seeking among other reliefs, a directive from the court to restrain the Fourth Estate from publishing its investigative report on “any social media platforms or newspapers or material until the plaintiff [NSA] side is included.”

The NSA officials also want the court to order The Fourth Estate to retract its yet-to-be-published report on all social media platforms or newspapers.

They also want The Fourth Estate to bear the cost of the litigation.