Two prominent Nigerian organisations – the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) – have initiated a legal proceeding against Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The lawsuit challenges what the groups characterise as systematic efforts to silence Minna-based Badeggi FM through intimidation tactics.
Court documents filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos (Case No: FHC/L/CS/1587/2025) reveal alarming allegations: Governor Bago allegedly ordered security forces to seal the radio station’s premises while threatening to revoke its broadcasting license, demolish its facilities, and investigate owner Shuaibu Badeggi over unsubstantiated claims of inciting violence.
The plaintiffs are demanding judicial intervention on critical constitutional questions, specifically whether NBC has failed its statutory obligation to shield media houses from political interference under Section 22 of the Constitution and Section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act. Their filings contend that the broadcast regulator’s inaction amid the governor’s threats represents a dangerous erosion of press freedoms that could establish a precedent for silencing dissent nationwide.
“The NBC’s failure to check this executive overreach violates its mandate to protect independent journalism,” states the lawsuit, which seeks both declaratory relief and permanent injunctions against further harassment of the station. The petition warns that allowing such political interference would cripple media freedom ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, creating a chilling effect on investigative reporting and public interest journalism.
Additional court filings obtained by our reporter reveal the plaintiffs’ argument that Governor Bago’s actions – including the demolition threat and license revocation warning – constitute unlawful restrictions on constitutionally guaranteed rights to free expression and access to information. The case is being closely watched as a litmus test for Nigeria’s democratic resilience amid growing concerns about press freedom across African nations.
According to SERAP and NGE, “the allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated.”
The suit, filed by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, emphasises that: “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.”
They warned that “intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of your constitutional oath of office and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”
The statement further reads “Intimidating, harassing and silencing Badeggi FM and its owner would have a chilling effect on the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom across several states.
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 elections.
The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM, its owner and other staff members of the station constitute a serious restriction on the development of democracy in the country, since it impedes free debate over ideas and opinions.
Media outlets in Niger State should be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.”
They added that both the governor and NBC “have the duty to respect and uphold the constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure that journalists and media houses that regularly impart information on matters of public interest including Badeggi FM enjoy an environment to perform that function.”
They stressed the “significant public interest in the capacity of the press, including Badeggi FM, to obtain and impart the information that it needs to function properly and perform its vital public watchdog role.”
SERAP and NGE argue that “any restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom must be provided by law, imposed to protect legitimate aims, and necessary to protect those aims,” adding that while national security can be a legitimate aim, “the UN Human Rights Council has stressed ‘the need to ensure that the invocation of national security is not used arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression.’”
Governor Bago had reportedly stated that the “daily activities of the radio station have been unethical” and accused its owner of “incitement of the people against the government.”
The plaintiffs countered: “A journalist’s or a radio station’s right to freedom of expression is protected even if the opinion advanced is not positively received. The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect the press not merely so that specific journalists may conduct their work; they protect the press in order to guarantee the public’s right of access to information in the public interest.”
They concluded that:
“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media to be able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”
The groups are seeking four declarations and an order of perpetual injunction against further intimidation.
Discussion about this post