The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have sued the Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over the ongoing intimidation of Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, and the threat to shut down the station.

The groups also claimed that Bago was weaponising the NBC and law enforcement agents to further crack down on the media house and its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi.
   
The governor recently threatened to strip the radio station of its licence, seal the media outfit, demolish its premises, and profile the owner, having been unhappy with the station’s contents.
   
The privately owned station and its owner are facing ongoing threats, intimidation and harassment.
In the suit, numbered FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, and filed at the weekend, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.
  
The NGE and SERAP are asking the court for a declaration that by the combined provisions of Section 22 of the 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 threat, intimidation and harassment.

The bodies are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and the regulator from further harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence and profile its owner.
 
 In the suit, the applicants are arguing that unless the reliefs sought are granted, the governor will continue to threaten, intimidate and harass the radio station and its owner, and may weaponise the NBC against the station.

The bodies 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 and ongoing intimidation constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in the country. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.