Dare Babalola
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has invited the management of Badeggi Radio Broadcasting Service, Minna, Niger State, to a meeting over issues arising from “monitoring reports” on the station.
This was contained in a statement dated September 8 and signed by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Pauline Ehusani, on behalf of the commission’s Director General.
The radio station was directed to attend the meeting slated for today (Tuesday September 16, 2025) at the Boardroom, NBC Headquarters, Asokoro District, Abuja.
The statement read, “The National Broadcasting Commission hereby invites you and the Management staff of your broadcast station for a meeting, aimed at discussing observations from monitoring reports on your station.”
The letter, directed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the station, added, “Please, ensure that attendance is in person”.
The move for an out-of-court settlement in the case between the Niger State Government and Badeggi FM collapsed, prompting the presiding judge to indicate his withdrawal from the matter.
The case, with suit number NSHC/M/0296/2025, was filed on 5th August 2025, before Justice Mohammed Mohammed, a vacation judge of Minna High Court number four.
Earlier, counsel to the respondents, Jacob Johnson Usman SAN, had informed the court on Monday, 25th August 2025, that the Niger State Government was exploring an amicable resolution.
He explained, “I have had a discussion with my clients the governor of Niger State and Attorney General of the Niger State, that we need to resolve the matter and he agreed. And the counsel to the plaintiffs also agreed that the matter be resolved in the best interest of their clients. And we informed the court as such. We have taken a date for 3rd of September 2025 to report back for our out-of-court settlement.”
However, when the matter came up on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025, counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Philip Emmanuel, announced that the settlement had collapsed.
“My lord. It is unfortunate that the out-of-court settlement as requested in the last sitting has failed,” he told the court.
Supporting his colleague, Barrister Philip A.O confirmed that the negotiation had failed, though he noted that other avenues for resolution were still being explored.
Following the disclosure, Justice Mohammed Mohammed stated that he could no longer continue with the case.
“As you know I’m a Vacation Judge. The vacation will resume by next week. I will now be on vacation, the Chief Judge will either re-assign the case as the case maybe. I will now adjourn the case till cinadel until the Chief decide on the next line of action,” the judge declared.
The matter would now be referred back to the Chief Judge of Niger State for reassignment.
In August, SaharaReporters reported that the Niger State government under Governor Mohammed Bago informed the Niger State High Court of its intention to settle a legal dispute with privately owned Badeggi FM Radio out of court.
This development follows the governor’s directive to shut down the station over allegations of public incitement.
Governor Bago also ordered the Niger State Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Homeland Security to profile the owner of the radio station.
The shutdown order attracted condemnation from media organisations and civil society groups, prompting Badeggi FM to file a suit challenging the action.
