Reopening of investigation into Dele Giwa’s murder, as vista of hope for social justice and press freedom in Nigeria
The event and circumstances leading to the murder of the renowned Nigerian Journalist, Mr. Sumonu Oladele Giwa, has continued to leave a sour taste in our national history.
Born and raised in Nigeria on the 16th March, 1947, and proceeded to America to study BA English and later worked at the New York Times. After a few years he went back to Nigeria and worked at the Daily Times. In 1984 he co-founded a magazine/paper with some of his friends called Newswatch. He was murdered by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986.
That his murder has continue to leave everyone guessing as to who his murderers are, even after more than three decades of the perpetration of this dastardly act, leaving people to wonder what his offences were, no doubt speaks-ill of our social justice system.
The cheering news however is that a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to reopen investigation and prosecution over the murder of Mr. Dele Giwa.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1301/2021, filed by Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) also, sought the enforcement of fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights.
In his rulling, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, on Friday granted the following Order 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.
Also an order directing the federal government 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.
For the younger generation who know little or nothing about him, Mr. Dele was an outstanding and prolific personality of the Pen Profession during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida whose death remains one of the many unresolved cases in Nigeria.
Through his versatility and his grasps of the journalism profession was able to hold public office holder to accountability even in the brutal military regime where the media is the most victimized.
Several attempts have been made in the past at unraveling those behind the murder of the renowned Journalist which has always proved futile. One of such was an attempt by Chris Omeben, a retired police chief, who once investigated the murder of Mr. Dele Giwa, once said that the high profile investigation was marred by interferences from “high places.”
Speaking further, the DIG explained that even when he had narrowed in on the principal suspect, who could have thrown more light on the riddle, the suspect was allowed to escape from Nigeria. The former police chief, was in charge of the Research Department of the Police CID when Mr.Giwa was killed.
Also, the late radical Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi yesterday, in Lagos, at the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Commission setup by erstwhile President, Olusegun Obasanjo narrated how his friend and founding editor of Newswatch magazine, late Dele Giwa, was murdered urged it to recommend to the presidency the prosecution of all suspected killers of the journalist.
It is on this note that the relevant agencies of Government especially the police, should ensure that thorough investigations are carried out in order to unravel the tragic death of one of Nigeria’s foremost journalist of all time. Also, the Government should fine tune strategies toward ensuring that the fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights is achieved. This is essential inorder to reflect our common good and also enhance social justice, equity and press freedom in Nigeria.
