The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have dragged Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to court over alleged intimidation of Minna-based Badeggi FM.
Governor Bago had reportedly ordered security operatives to seal the station, threatened to revoke its licence, demolish its premises, and accusing the station of promoting violence in the state.
In a suit filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (FHC/L/CS/1587/2025), SERAP and NGE asked the court to declare that NBC has a legal duty under the Nigerian Constitution and the NBC Act to protect Badeggi FM and other broadcasters from undue interference. They also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC from harassing and shutting down the station.
The groups argued that NBC’s failure to defend the station’s independence amounted to a breach of its statutory duty. They described the threats against Badeggi FM as unlawful, a violation of press freedom, and an attempt to silence dissenting voices ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The allegations against Badeggi FM are vague and unsubstantiated. Intimidating media houses undermines democracy and chills free debate on public issues,” the suit partly reads.
SERAP and NGE maintained that both Governor Bago and the NBC must ensure journalists operate without fear of reprisals, stressing that any restrictions on press freedom must be lawful, necessary, and not arbitrarily based on national security claims.
