In a statement issued on Saturday, NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), called for the immediate reversal of the directive, asserting that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is legally empowered to regulate or shut down broadcast stations in Nigeria. He warned that any action outside this framework constitutes a clear attempt to gag the press.
“This is executive rascality of the highest order,” Osigwe stated. “It is a blatant abuse of power that undermines constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The governor has no constitutional authority to revoke broadcast licences or shut down a media outlet. Only the NBC can do so — and only through due process.”
The NBA further alleged that the shutdown, reportedly enforced through the state’s Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Homeland Security, involved the profiling of the station’s owner and the marking of the premises for possible demolition.
According to Osigwe, the closure violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and media access. He also cautioned law enforcement agencies against acting on unlawful directives.
“Security agencies must not function as tools of political intimidation or media repression. They are obligated to operate within constitutional bounds,” the NBA president emphasized.
The legal body declared the governor’s directive “entirely unlawful and of no legal effect,” insisting that any regulatory action against a media house must be carried out in accordance with established procedures and judicial oversight.
“The unlawful closure of Badeggi FM is a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to stand,” Osigwe warned.
The NBA urged Governor Bago to immediately rescind his order and desist from further unconstitutional actions, while also calling on all levels of government to respect the rule of law and protect press freedoms.
“A free and independent media is not a luxury — it is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of democratic governance,” the NBA concluded.
