By Francis Ajuonuma
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have dragged Niger State Governor Umar Bago and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to court over alleged intimidation, harassment, and threats to shut down Badeggi FM Radio, Minna.
In a suit (FHC/L/CS/1587/2025) filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, the two groups accused Governor Bago of threatening to strip the station of its licence, seal its premises, demolish its building, and profile its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi, following broadcasts that reportedly displeased the state government.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the legal action also seeks to hold the NBC accountable for “failing in its statutory duty” under Section 22 of the Constitution and Section 2(1) (t) of the NBC Act to protect broadcast outlets from arbitrary political interference.
SERAP and NGE are asking the court to declare the governor’s threats unlawful, a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, and to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining both the governor and NBC from further harassment.
The plaintiffs contend that the accusations against Badeggi FM, including allegations of promoting violence, are “vague, unfounded, and unsubstantiated” and are being used as a pretext to muzzle critical voices. They warn that such actions, if unchecked, could embolden other political actors to deploy state power against independent media.
They also argue that NBC’s inaction undermines its credibility as a regulator and erodes public confidence in its role as a defender of free and independent broadcasting.
“This is not just about Badeggi FM,” the statement reads, “it is about protecting all media houses from politically motivated crackdowns that violate Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.”
Highlighting the broader implications, SERAP and NGE warned that the intimidation of Badeggi FM could have a chilling effect on journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections, reducing the media’s ability to scrutinise public officials and inform voters on governance issues. “A democracy cannot function where journalists and radio stations work under fear of reprisals,” the statement stressed.
The groups further noted that freedom of expression is protected even when the views expressed are unpopular or critical of those in power, insisting that public debate, especially on political and governance matters, must remain open and robust.
“There is significant public interest in ensuring that the press, including Badeggi FM, operates freely to perform its watchdog role without fear of reprisals,” the suit states, adding that any restriction on media freedom must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate to a legitimate aim.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.
