The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over intimidation of Minna-based radio station, Badeggi FM, and the threat to shut and crack down on the station using law enforcement.

Recall that Governor Bago recently directed security operatives to seal Badeggi FM, with threat to revoked its license, demolish the station’s premises, and profiling the station’s owner, Shuiabu Badeggi.

In the suit filed on Friday, with number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine “whether, by section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and section 2(1) (t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.

SERAP and NGE are asking the court for “a declaration that by the combined provisions of section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from any intimidation and undue interference.

”SERAP and NGE are seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining Niger State governor and NBC from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shutdown Badeggi FM and revoke the licence of station.”

In the suit, SERAP and NGE are arguing that: “the failure and or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of Badeggi FM radio against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.”

SERAP and NGE are also arguing that, “the ongoing intimidation, and threat by Governor Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and to profile the station’s owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

According to SERAP and NGE, “the allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP and NGE by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part:

“The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”

“Intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of your constitutional oath of office and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“Intimidating, harassing and silencing Badeggi FM and its owner would have a chilling effect on the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom across several states.

“The ongoing intimidation and threat to arbitrarily revoke the station’s licence, unlawfully demolish its premises and profile its owner are all clearly antithetical to the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM, its owner and other staff members of the station constitute a serious restriction on the development of democracy in the country, since it impedes free debate over ideas and opinions.

“Media outlets in Niger State should be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.

“Both Governor ago and the NBC have the duty to respect and uphold the constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure that journalists and media houses that regularly impart information on matters of public interest including Badeggi FM enjoy an environment to perform that function.

“There is significant public interest in the capacity of the press, including Badeggi FM to obtain and impart the information that it needs to function properly and perform its vital public watchdog role.

“Any restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom must be provided by law, imposed to protect legitimate aims, and necessary to protect those aims.

“While the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties recognize national security and public order as legitimate aims for restricting freedom of expression, the UN Human Rights Council has stressed ‘the need to ensure that the invocation of national security is not used arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression.

‘”Governor Bago reportedly ordered the immediate shutdown of Badeggi, a privately owned radio station in Minna, ordered the station’s premises to be marked for demolition and requested the Commissioner of Homeland Security to profile the station’s owner; Shuaibu Badeggi, on unfounded allegations that the station ‘promotes violence.

“Governor Bago also reportedly stated that the ‘daily activities of the radio station have been unethical’, and accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against the government.

“A journalist’s or a radio station’s right to freedom of expression is protected even if the opinion advanced is not positively received.

“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect the press not merely so that specific journalists may conduct their work; they protect the press in order to guarantee the public’s right of access to information in the public interest.

“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential.

This implies a free press and other media to be able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.

”SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that by the combined provisions of section 22 Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) section 2(1)(t) of the National Broadcasting Act, the NBC is obligated by law to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from undue interference from unauthorized persons or entity.

2. A DECLARATION that the failure and or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of the radio station against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.

3. A DECLARATION that the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Governir Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence and further threat to demolish the station’s premises is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

4. A DECLARATION that the threat issued by Governor Bago to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its operational licence encroaches upon the statutory powers of the NBC provided for under section 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act, thereby rendering the decision of the NBC ultra vires its constitutional duties and unlawful.

5. AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have reportedly stormed the Green Legacy Hotel, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and arrested some youths suspected to be internet fraudsters.

EFCC operatives carried out the raid in the early hours of Sunday during a pool party at the premises of the library.

This came barely five days after operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the commission arrested a suspected internet fraudster with two locally-made pistols in a raid at K-Hotel in Itori, Ewekoro area of the state.

The suspect, according to the anti-graft agency, was among the 55 others arrested during the raid carried out on Wednesday.

A viral video shared online from the Sunday raid at the Obasanjo Library showed youths scampering for safety as the sound of gunshots filled the air.

The operatives reportedly arrested a number of youths and seized “more than 20 luxury cars and other valuable items.”

The operation was carried out by the EFCC operatives from the Lagos Directorate.

An X user, A.Ayomide, in a post said, “Literally left my house past midnight to go to OOPL, got there and the crowd was too much. I don’t like the settings, my guy doesn’t like the settings, so we were just at the car park.“

Left around 1:30, 20 minutes later I get home and I’m getting calls that EFCC is raiding OOPL.”

The Managing Director of OOPL Ventures, Vitalis Ortese, confirmed the incident, but he did not provide details.

“Yes, they did. There was an incident this morning. We will find out and we will let you know,” he said.

Meanwhile, a statement has released after the incident. See below:

Meanwhile, the management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of invading its premises in the early hours of Sunday, August 10, 2025, in what it described as a “Gestapo-like” operation.

In a statement issued on Sunday , the OOPL management alleged that at about 2 a.m., over 50 armed men, purportedly EFCC agents led by one “Olapade,” stormed the complex, shooting into the air and threatening to kill people.

The raid, they claimed, caused chaos and panic among guests and residents, leaving several people injured while trying to flee.

According to the statement, “This morning, at about 2 am, the OOPL premises were invaded by a Gestapo-like gang of over 50 armed men, shooting guns, threatening to kill people, and purported to be from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The invasion, led by one “Olapade” caused serious panic and chaos, leading to serious injuries among participants trying to escape the shooting and near carnage that resulted, and causing terror among residents on the site.

In the meantime, management demands an explanation of these impudent accounts from the Commission and an apology from the EFCC authorities for the infringement of its rights, to all those who gathered, and those who sustained serious injuries from the gangster like induced chaos.

Failure for which the management will be compelled to seek redress and sanctions as appropriate.

On inquiry by phone, “Olapade” informed the Managing Director of the OOPL establishment, Mr. Vitalis Ortese, that they were acting on intelligence about a private event in the amusement facility of the complex.

They also informed management that the police have been duly informed of the operation.

It should be noted that the event was a private event that had been widely attended to members of the public for days prior.

It should also be noted that both the police officers stationed at the OOPL gates and the additional police sent from the Kemta Police Station, as requested by the organizers of the event and management, stated that they were NOT informed of any planned operation by the EFCC, and neither did they present any warrant.

And when the armed men were accosted by OOPL security and assisting police officers, they simply retorted, “We are doing our job”.

Management wishes to state that this action by the EFCC is a clear case of invasion of private property, infringement of OOPL rights as corporate citizens, and indeed stark and blatant violation of the rights of the people who so gathered for the event.

Management has commenced its investigation of the invasion and will take up the matter with the highest authorities, including the EFCC, the police, and the Department of State Security.

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant legal victory with the conviction of twenty-one (21) foreign nationals involved in a high-profile cybercrime syndicate uncovered in Abuja in November 2024.

The arrest became possible in its sustained fight against cyber-related crimes and in protection of national security.

Recall, that on Saturday, 3rd November 2024, acting on credible and actionable intelligence, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force carried out a well-coordinated raid on a building located at Jahi, Abuja.

The operation, which was part of a broader cybercrime crackdown, resulted in the arrest of 130 suspects, comprising 113 foreign nationals, predominantly of Chinese and Malaysian origin, and 17 Nigerian collaborators.

These suspects were implicated in activities including large-scale internet fraud, hacking operations, and other cyber offences capable of undermining Nigeria’s national security and economic stability.

Following series of investigations, the suspects were arraigned in court on December 2nd, 2024.

The trial process, which involved the presentation of robust digital forensic evidence and expert testimonies, has progressed steadily through the judicial system.

As of Friday, 1st August 2025, twenty-one (21) of the accused have been convicted and sentenced by the competent court of jurisdiction.

Prosecution of the remaining defendants continues, with the Police working closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure full accountability.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reaffirmed the continuous dedication of the Force to intensifying the fight against all forms of cybercrime.

He emphasized that the conviction sends a strong message to both local and international cybercriminal networks that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for criminal enterprises.

The Force assures members of the public that it will continue to deploy cutting-edge technology, international collaboration, and diligent investigative processes to dismantle organized cybercrime groups. Further updates on the ongoing prosecutions will be provided as the cases progress in court.