Badeggi FM: SERAP, NGE sue Niger State governor, NBC

NGE logo

By CHIKA CHIMEZIE

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over intimidation of Minna-based radio station, Badeggi FM, and the threat to shut and crack down on the station using law enforcement.

Governor Bago recently directed security operatives to seal Badeggi FM, with threat to revoked its license, demolish the station’s premises, and profiling the station’s owner, Shuiabu Badeggi.

In the suit filed on Friday, with number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are asking the court 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.

SERAP and NGE are 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.”

SERAP and NGE are seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining Niger State governor and NBC from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shutdown Badeggi FM and revoke the licence of station.”

In the suit, SERAP and NGE are arguing that: “the failure and or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of Badeggi FM radio against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.”