President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has strongly condemned the shutdown of Badeggi FM 90.1, a privately-owned radio station in Minna, Niger State, by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, describing the move as a “blatant abuse of power” and a “dangerous assault on press freedom and constitutional democracy.”
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In a sharply worded statement issued on Saturday, Osigwe denounced the directive which reportedly included orders to profile the station’s owner and mark the premises for demolition as executive overreach and unconstitutional.
“This constitutes executive rascality of the highest order. The Governor lacks the constitutional or legal authority to revoke broadcast licences or shut down any media establishment,” Osigwe stated.
He emphasized that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the statutory mandate to regulate and, where necessary, revoke or suspend broadcast licences, adding that even such action must follow due process.
According to the NBA President, the action is not just illegal but also undermines Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including the right to own and operate media platforms.
“No person, regardless of office, has the right to arbitrarily restrict or shut down a media house without due process of law,” Osigwe said. “Security agencies must not allow themselves to be used as tools for political intimidation or media suppression.”
The NBA, under Osigwe’s leadership, affirmed the following:
- Governor Bago’s directive is entirely unlawful and has no legal effect.
- The Commissioner of Police and other security agencies must resist unlawful orders.
- All media regulation must follow due process through the appropriate regulatory bodies.
- The actions against Badeggi FM violate democratic norms and infringe on press freedom.
The NBA called on Governor Bago to “immediately withdraw this directive” and warned against further unconstitutional actions.
“A free and independent media is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of any democratic society,” Osigwe concluded.
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