Dele Giwa, Bagauda Kaltho, Others ‘Resurrect’ In Abuja As Court Orders FG To Reopen Murder Cases

The Federal Government has been ordered to reopen a murder investigation dating back to 1986 and other similar cases .

Mr Dele Giwa, a top journalist , who died in 1986, ‘resurrected’ in Abuja on Friday.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Federal High Court,  Abuja on Friday ordered the Federal Government to reopen murder cases , investigate and prosecute  killers of journalists in  the country from 1986 to 2023.

Founder of Newswatch Magazine,  Mr Dele Giwa was the first popular journalist to be killed in the country,. He was killed by a parcel bomb in his home at Ikeja, Lagos, while in his study with Kayode Soyinka, on Sunday 19 October 1986.

 Bagauda Kaltho and Bayo Onu were also  among journalists who were killed  between 1986 and 2023.

The Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation seeking several reliefs including a declaration that the killing of Nigerian journalists is a violation of their fundamental rights to life.

The organisation also sought the enforcement of the fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and African Charter on Human Rights.

MRA also  submitted that some journalists are still being harassed by security agencies with the AGF allegedly doing nothing about it.

Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection and safety  of journalists as enshrined in Sections 33, and 39 of the Constitution and Articles 4 and 9 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.

He ruled  that the AGF, being the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, is under obligation to prosecute and penalise killers of media practitioners in the country.

‘An order is hereby made directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators of all attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that all victims of attacks against journalists have access to effective remedies’ he said.

‘An order is hereby made directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to take measures to raise awareness and build the capacities of various stakeholders, particularly journalists and other media practitioners, policymakers, law enforcement, security, intelligence, military as well as other officials and relevant stakeholders on the laws and standards for ensuring the safety of journalists and media practitioners’ Justice  Ekwo added.

He has  also ordered the FG to put in place measures that would prevent journalists getting  attacked by anyone.

‘An order is hereby made directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners’ he added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you