The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have taken legal action against Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and the National Broadcasting Commission over what they described as “intimidation” of Badeggi FM 90.1 in Minna and threats to revoke its broadcasting licence.
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, accused the NBC of failing to defend the independence of the local station after Governor Bago reportedly ordered its closure, citing alleged public incitement.
The suit, filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (FHC/L/CS/1587/2025), seeks to establish whether the NBC, under Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of its Act, has a legal duty to protect the station from political interference.
The groups are also asking the court to issue “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC from harassing, intimidating, or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM, revoke its licence, or profile its owner.”
They argued that the alleged threats — including to demolish the station’s premises and to label its owner — are “unlawful” and violate constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“The ongoing intimidation and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom,” the suit reads.
The plaintiffs described the allegations of inciting violence against the station as “vague, unfounded, and apparently made to silence the radio station ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
They further stated that “intimidating, harassing, and silencing critical voices under the guise of unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
SERAP and the NGE want the court to declare that the NBC’s failure to shield Badeggi FM from “arbitrary executive interference” amounts to a dereliction of duty, and that only the NBC has statutory powers to revoke broadcasting licences.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.