Badeggi Radio Station Crisis: Niger Govt Seeks Out of Court Settlement

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has sought an out of court settlement in the case between it and Badeggi FM Radio station in Minna, Niger State.

At the commencement of hearing in the case filed before Justice Mohammed Mohammed, the vacation judge of the High Court on Monday, counsel to the state government, Mr. Jacob Johnson Usman, SAN, told the court that the respondents would want the case to be settled out of court.

Mr. Philip Emmanuel counsel to the applicants did not oppose the request by the respondents.

After hearing from both parties, Justice Mohammed Mohammed granted the request of the respondents and adjourned the matter to 3rd September, 2025 to enable them explore an out-of-court settlement of the case.

The two parties are expected to meet and iron out the grey areas of misunderstanding before coming up with conditions and terms of reference for the settlement at the next adjournment day.

Justice Mohammed Mohammed had last week granted an interim injunction stopping Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago or any of his proxy from shutting the Badeggi FM radio station in the suit filed by Badeggi Broadcasting Services Ltd and Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi the owner of the station.

The suit was brought pursuant to sections 6(6)a 36(1and 2) 41,43,46 and the Seventh Schedule Of The Constitution Of The Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended, as well as section 2(2) 9 and 13 of the National Broadcasting Commission act cap N11 LFN 2004, and order 2 rule 3,4,(a) (b) (c) of the fundamental Rights ( Enforcement Procedure rule 2009 and also under the inherent jurisdiction of the Hon. Court as prescribed under section 6 (6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

Justice Mohammed Mohammed restrained all the respondents whether by themselves, or their agents’ servants, privies representatives or otherwise however described/called from taking any further steps in connection with the matter and should maintain the status quo.

In addition, Justice Mohammed directed the respondents should stay all necessary actions such as revocation, withdrawal seizure, cancellation, termination or any other prejudicial action against the applicant’s licence.

The court also in the interim order said the respondents should stay action on any forceful entry, invasion, demolition, destruction or any other prejudicial act in relation to the applicant’s business premises situate at NTA compound uphill Minna, Niger State, pending the hearing and termination of the motion on notice filed by the applicants

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago while speaking at the expanded caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress APC Niger State Chapter held in Minna, directed the Badeggi FM station to be shut for what he described as “unprofessional conduct”.

However, the Commissioner for Information, Hajia Binta Mamman, in a statement said the station was not shut as it has been broadcasting.

Binta Mamman said in the statement that the sins of the radio station were being documented for presentation to the National Broadcasting Commission for necessary action.