The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has rebuked Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State for ordering the closure of Badeggi FM 90.1, a privately-owned radio station based in Minna. The legal body described the move as a “blatant abuse of power” and “executive rascality of the highest order,” calling for the immediate withdrawal of the directive.
According to the NBA, the shutdown was enforced via instructions to the state’s Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Homeland Security, who were reportedly directed to also profile the station’s owner and mark the facility for demolition.
“This constitutes executive rascality of the highest order. It is a blatant abuse of power that undermines constitutional democracy and the rule of law,” NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said in a strongly worded statement.
He emphasized that the Governor lacks the constitutional authority to revoke broadcast licences or shut down media outlets.
“In Nigeria, only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the statutory mandate to regulate broadcasting, including the suspension or revocation of licences, subject to due process,” the statement noted.
Osigwe warned that security agencies must not act as tools of political repression, insisting that the Police and other security operatives are bound by the constitution and must refuse unlawful directives.
“The Commissioner of Police or any security agency must not act on unlawful executive directives. They are bound by law to act within constitutional limits, and not as instruments for political intimidation or media suppression,” he stated.
Quoting Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to operate media establishments, the NBA said the Governor’s actions represent a dangerous threat to press freedom and democracy.
“No person, regardless of office, has the right to arbitrarily restrict or shut down a media house without due process of law. This unlawful closure, without regulatory sanction or judicial backing, is a dangerous assault on press freedom and democratic governance,” Osigwe stressed.
The NBA consequently affirmed the following:
- Governor Bago’s directive is entirely unlawful and without legal effect.
- The Commissioner of Police and other relevant authorities must refuse to execute illegal orders that infringe on constitutional rights.
- Media regulation must follow due process through established statutory channels, not arbitrary executive fiat.
- The actions taken against Badeggi FM are a direct affront to press freedom and violate Nigeria’s democratic norms.
“We call on Governor Bago to immediately withdraw this directive and refrain from further unconstitutional acts,” the statement concluded. “A free and independent media is not a privilege—it is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of any democratic society.”
The NBA further urged all levels of government to respect the rule of law, uphold democratic principles, and protect the integrity of press institutions across the country.
