Rights Group and Editors Take Niger Governor, NBC to Court Over Badeggi FM Shutdown

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the recent shutdown of Minna-based Badeggi FM.

Governor Bago allegedly ordered security operatives to seal the radio station, threatened to revoke its licence, demolish its premises, and accused it 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 are asking the court to declare that the NBC has a constitutional and legal duty to protect Badeggi FM and other broadcasters from political intimidation or interference.

The groups also requested a perpetual injunction to stop both the governor and the NBC from harassing or shutting down the station in the future.

They argue that NBC’s failure to defend Badeggi FM’s independence amounts to a breach of its statutory duty, warning that such actions violate press freedom and risk silencing critical voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The allegations against Badeggi FM are vague and unsubstantiated. Intimidating media houses undermines democracy and chills free debate on public issues,” the suit reads in part.

SERAP and NGE stressed that journalists must be allowed to work without fear of reprisals, and that any restriction on press freedom must be lawful, necessary, and not based on arbitrary national security claims.

The case is expected to set a significant precedent for media independence and freedom of expression in Nigeria.