Absorbed, drag Niger Gov, NBC to court over Badegggi FM

Socio-Economic and Accountability Projects (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Umar Bago, the Governor of the Niger State and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for “Sustainable Intimidation of Badgegi, Minna, and Threats to Close Stations and Weapons Armed, Badggi.

Mr Bago Baru -Newly threatened to disarm Badegggi FM radio from a license, seal media clothes, destroy the premise, and the profile of the station owner, who was not happy with the station broadcast. Private stations, and their owners face threats, intimidation, and sustainable harassment.

In the FHC/L/CS/1587/2025 lawsuit number, it was submitted last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, absorbing and NGE asked the court to determine “whether in part 22 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended] and part 2 (1)

Absorbing and nge asked the court to “a declaration that with the provisions of the joint article 22 of the Nigerian constitution and part 2 (1)

Absorbing and nge also looking for “Abadi’s orders that arrest the Governor of the state Niger and NBC from further harassment, intimidating and/or threatening to close the Badeggi FM Radio, revoke the license and profile of the station owner.”

In the lawsuit, absorbing and nge argued that: “Unless the relief is sought given, the governor will continue to threaten, intimidate, and harass radio stations and their owners and can arm NBCs against the station.”

Absorbing and nge argues that, “failure and/or neglect of NBC to protect and maintain the independence of the Badggi FM radio against the interference of executive executives and the ongoing intimidation is a violation of its legal tasks to ensure fair, independent, and legal broadcasting practices in Nigeria.”

Absorb and Nge also argues that, “ongoing intimidation, and threats by Bago to disarm Badeggi FM Station from licenses, further threats to destroy the place of the station and the owner’s profile violate the law and violate the rights of freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

According to absorption and nge, “The accusation of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and the owner is unclear, baseless and unfounded and seems to be made to silence the radio station.”

The lawsuit filed in the name of absorption and ngers by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nawankwo, read partly: “The media plays an important role as a vehicle or instrument for the implementation of freedom of expression and information – in individual and collective aspects – in democratic society.”

“Intimidating, harassing, and silencing critical votes or differences of opinion with the guise of unclear and unfounded national security concerns are fundamental violations of the Nigerian constitution and Nigerian international human rights obligations.”

“Intimidating, harassing, and silencing Badeggi FM and their owners will have a terrible effect on the protection of freedom of expression and freedom of the media in several states.”

“The ongoing intimidation, harassment, and threat to revoke the station license arbitrarily, illegally destroy the premise and the owner’s profile is clearly contrary to the Nigerian constitutional requirements and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

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“The ongoing intimidation and harassment from Badeggi FM and their owners are able to reduce the participation of the press in the debate about the legal issue of public concern before the 2027 General Election.”

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment against Badeggi FM, the owner and other staff staff members are serious restrictions on the development of democracy in the country, because it hinders free debate about ideas and opinions.”

“Media outlets in the state of Niger must be free to allow debates about the issue of public interests without fear of retaliation.”

“Both Bago and NBC have the obligation to respect and uphold their constitutional and legal obligations to ensure that journalists and media houses that regularly provide information about the issue of public interests including Badeggi FM enjoy the environment to perform the function.”

“There is a significant public interest in the press capacity including Badeggi FM to obtain and provide information that needs to function properly and carry out the role of vital public supervisors.”

“Every restriction on freedom of expression and freedom of the media must be provided by law, imposed to protect legal goals, and is needed to protect these goals.”

“While the Nigerian Constitution and Human Rights Agreement recognize national security and public order as a legal goal to limit freedom of expression, the UN Human Rights Council has emphasized ‘the need to ensure that national security prayers are not used arbitrarily to limit freedom of expression’.”

“Bago reportedly ordered the closure of Badeggi directly, ordered the station marked for demolition and asked the Domestic Security Commissioner to make the profile of the owner of the Shuaibu Badeggu Station on an unfounded accusation that the station ‘promoted violence.'” “

“MR Bago was also reported to have stated that ‘the daily activities of the radio station are unethical’, and accuse the owner of the people’s incitement station against the government.”

“The rights of journalists or radio stations for freedom of expression are protected even if the opinion advances is not positively accepted.”

“The Nigerian constitution and human rights agreements protect the press not only so that certain journalists can carry out their work; they protect the press to guarantee the public’s right to access information for the public interest.”

“Free communication information and ideas about public and political problems between citizens, candidates and selected representatives are very important. This implies a free press and other media that can comment on public problems without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”

Therefore, absorbing and nge asked the court for the following assistance:

1. Declaration Whereas with the provisions of the joint article 22 of the Nigerian constitution and part 2 (1)
2. Declaration That the failure and/or neglect of NBC to protect and maintain the independence of radio stations against executive interference that is arbitrary is a violation of its legal obligations to ensure fair, independent, and legal broadcasting practices in Nigeria.
3. Declaration That the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Bago to disarm the Badegggi FM station from its operational license and further threats to destroy the station where the station violates the law and violates the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.
4. Declaration That the threat issued by Bago to disarm the Badeggi FM radio station on its operational license violates the NBC legal limit as stipulated in part 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Law.
5. Order From the command continues to arrest the Governor and NBC, the agents and Privi from harassing, intimidating, and/or threatening to revoke the Badggi FM Station operation license or other broadcasting outlets in the Niger state.

No date set for the lawsuit session.