Niger State Government Rejects Out-of-Court Settlement in Baddegi FM Case.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
In a significant development regarding the legal dispute between the Niger State government and Baddegi FM, a proposed out-of-court settlement has been dismissed, complicating the resolution process.
During a recent hearing at the Minna High Court, counsel for the Niger State government, Jacob Johnson Usman SAN, had indicated a move toward settling the matter amicably.
He communicated to Justice Mohammed Mohammed that both the governor and the Attorney General of Niger State were in favor of resolving the issue outside of court, and a tentative date of September 3, 2025, was set for a follow-up on these discussions.
However, when the case reconvened on September 3, 2025, Barrister Philip Emmanuel, representing the plaintiffs, reported to the court that the efforts for an out-of-court settlement had ultimately failed.
Emmanuel expressed disappointment, stating, “My lord, it is unfortunate that the out-of-court settlement as requested in the last sitting has failed.”
Barrister Philip A.O corroborated Emmanuel’s statement, informing the court that alternative means of resolution were still being explored.
In light of the unsuccessful negotiations, Justice Mohammed declared that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment. He noted, “As you know, I’m a Vacation Judge. The vacation will resume next week, and I will now adjourn the case until the Chief Judge decides on the next line of action.”
The court’s decision indicates a shift back into the judicial process, leaving the parties to await further direction on how to proceed with the case.
