The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strong condemnation of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State following his directive to shut down Badeggi FM 90.1, a privately-owned radio station based in Minna. Describing the governor’s actions as “executive rascality of the highest order,” the NBA called the move unconstitutional and a direct threat to press freedom and democratic governance.
In a statement released by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, the association decried the use of state security operatives to enforce what it termed an illegal order. Reports indicate that the closure was accompanied by instructions to profile the station’s owner and to mark the premises for possible demolition, actions the NBA says flagrantly violate the Nigerian Constitution.
According to Osigwe, only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) holds the statutory power to regulate broadcasting activities in Nigeria, including the revocation or suspension of licenses. “The Governor lacks the constitutional or legal authority to shut down any media establishment,” he stated. “This is a blatant abuse of power that undermines the principles of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.”
The NBA emphasized that the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies must not act on unlawful executive directives. “Security agencies must operate within the bounds of the law and not serve as instruments for political intimidation or media suppression,” the statement added.
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Referencing Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and media access, the NBA described the closure as a dangerous precedent. “No individual, regardless of political office, has the right to arbitrarily shut down a media organization. This is a violation of fundamental rights and poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability,” Osigwe warned.
The NBA has called for the immediate reversal of the closure order and urged all government actors to respect constitutional boundaries. It reaffirmed that media regulation must follow due process and that attempts to bypass statutory procedures would not be tolerated.
The association concluded by reiterating its unwavering commitment to defending press freedom in Nigeria, insisting that a free and independent media is not a privilege but a constitutional right and a pillar of any true democracy.
