SERAP, Nigerian Editors File Lawsuit Against Niger Governor Over Closure of Badeggi FM

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have taken legal action against Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) following the reported closure of the Minna-based Badeggi FM radio station. The case highlights growing concerns over press freedom and political interference in Nigeria’s broadcast industry.

According to reports, Governor Bago allegedly ordered security forces to seal off the Badeggi FM premises. He further threatened to revoke the station’s operational licence, demolish its building, and accused the radio station of allegedly inciting violence within the state. These accusations have drawn public attention, with media advocates viewing them as attempts to silence critical journalism.

The suit, filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos under case number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, calls on the judiciary to intervene in protecting media independence. SERAP and the NGE are urging the court to declare that the NBC holds a constitutional and statutory responsibility—under the Nigerian Constitution and the NBC Act—to shield Badeggi FM and other broadcasting stations from undue political and administrative interference.

The plaintiffs are also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Governor Bago and the NBC from carrying out any form of harassment, closure, or operational disruption of Badeggi FM. They argue that NBC’s inaction in defending the station’s editorial independence constitutes a breach of its statutory obligations.

According to SERAP and the NGE, the alleged threats against Badeggi FM are unlawful, a violation of press freedom, and a strategic move to silence dissenting voices in the build-up to the 2027 general elections. They emphasised that the accusations against the station were vague, unsubstantiated, and without credible evidence.

The court filing partly reads:

“The allegations against Badeggi FM are unproven and lacking in substance. Any attempt to intimidate media organisations undermines the principles of democracy and suppresses open, public discourse on matters of national importance.”

SERAP and the NGE further insisted that both Governor Bago and the NBC must guarantee a safe working environment for journalists and broadcasters. They stressed that any restriction on media operations should comply strictly with legal standards, be necessary, and not be based on arbitrary claims of national security.

The lawsuit represents a broader debate about media freedom in Nigeria, particularly in politically sensitive periods. Advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that press intimidation could erode democratic accountability, allowing unchecked political power to flourish.