Niger Govt Accuses Badeggi Radio Of Operating With Expired Licence

The Niger State Government has told a High Court in Minna that Badeggi Radio Broadcasting Services Limited has been running without a valid licence since October 2023.

The disclosure came through a counter-affidavit filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the state in response to a fundamental rights suit filed by the station and its owner, Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi.

The radio station and its owner had approached the court to challenge the state’s action, claiming violations of their rights to fair hearing, freedom of expression, ownership of property, and personal liberty. They argued that the sealing of their station was unlawful and an attempt to silence critical voices in the state.

In its response, the state government maintained that the radio station had lost its legal right to operate after the expiration of its provisional licence in October 2023. The affidavit, deposed to by Yunus Yusuf Bosso, Chief Registrar in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, stated that Badeggi Radio had continued to broadcast illegally and present itself as a licensed station despite its expired permit.

The government further accused the station of breaching building regulations and transmitting content that fueled public hostility toward the state administration. It said the structure housing the station was only marked for non-compliance with state planning laws and not for demolition as claimed by the applicants.

According to the state, the applicants failed to prove that any of their fundamental rights were violated. It argued that no one could seek protection under the law while engaging in unlawful activities, citing sections of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2004, which restrict broadcasting without a valid licence. The government, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the case and award costs against the applicants.

The legal battle follows months of tension between the state government and Badeggi Radio. The station was earlier sealed by state authorities after Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago accused it of airing false and provocative content against the government. The action sparked public outrage and drew the attention of civil society groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which demanded the reopening of the station and protection of press freedom.

After mounting pressure, the state government temporarily reopened the station pending an investigation by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The Ministry of Information later clarified that the issue would be reviewed by the NBC to determine whether the station’s operations met regulatory standards.

By August 2025, both parties had been exploring an out-of-court settlement before the matter resurfaced in court with the new filing. The latest move by the state government now focuses on its claim that Badeggi Radio has been operating illegally since its licence expired nearly two years ago.