A Niger State High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining Governor Umaru Bago and the state government from taking further punitive actions against Badeggi Radio, a privately owned broadcasting station based in Minna.
Justice Mohammed S.A. Mohammed, sitting at the Vacation Court in the Minna Judicial Division, granted the order on Tuesday following an ex-parte application filed by Badeggi Radio Broadcasting Services Ltd and its proprietor, Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi.
The applicants approached the court amid fears of forceful demolition and license revocation after the station was shut down by the state government and its building marked for destruction.
The government had accused the station of airing content deemed treasonable and inciting public unrest, a claim Governor Bago reiterated in a widely circulated video.
“Badeggi Radio is promoting insecurity in Niger City,” Bago said. “Its utterances are treasonable. Therefore, we have sealed that station with immediate effect.”
In response, the court order directed all respondents, including the government and its agents, to maintain the status quo and refrain from any further adverse actions against the radio station.
“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted… staying all actions such as revocation, withdrawal, seizure, cancellation, termination or any other prejudicial act against the applicants’ license… pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice,” the judge ruled.
