…Demand perpetual injunction restraining NBC’s intimidation
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have filed a lawsuit against Mohammed Umar Bago, the governor of Niger State, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the intimidation of Minna-based radio station, Badeggi FM.
In a statement jointly signed by Onuoha Ukeh, general secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the groups urged the court to protect the radio station from the threat of being shut down or cracked down on by using the law enforcement.
Similarly, NGE and SERAP have also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.
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According to the statement, the Niger State governor was alleged to have recently directed security operatives to seal Badeggi FM, with a threat to revoke its licence, demolish the station’s premises, and profile the station’s owner, Shuiabu Badeggi.
Both NGE and SERAP are asking the court in a suit filed on Friday, with number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, to determine “whether, by section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and section 2(1) (t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”
NGE and SERAP are also asking the court for “a declaration that by the combined provisions of section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from any intimidation and undue interference.”
Furthermore, NGE and SERAP are seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Niger State governor and NBC from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM and revoke the licence of the station.”
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According to NGE and SERAP, the allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated.
“The ongoing intimidation and threat to arbitrarily revoke the station’s licence, unlawfully demolish its premises and profile its owner are all clearly antithetical to the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general election.”
The suit filed on behalf of the groups by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”
