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Reopening of investigation into Dele Giwa’s murder, as vista of hope for social justice and press freedom in Nigeria

Published

3 months ago

February 19, 2024

NewsDirect

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.

News

Nigeria’s money supply dropped to N92.3trn in March – CBN

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

Nigeria’s money supply dropped marginally to N92.3 trillion in March 2024 from N93.9 trillion in February.

This is according to recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Experts have linked the development to CBN’s hike in interest rates.

Demand deposits increased from N26.8 trillion to N28.8 trillion, suggesting a preference among depositors for more liquid forms of money.

Similarly, currency outside banks surged from N3.4 trillion to N3.6 trillion as more Nigerians moved towards cash following the end of the apex bank’s controversial new naira note policy.

The naira has continued to depreciate against the dollar despite the CBN’s policy intervention. On Thursday, it further dipped to N1533.99 per dollar.

News

Naira appreciates against dollar, ends week on good note

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Naira appreciated against the dollar at the foreign exchange market barely 24 hours after depreciation.

FMDQ data showed that the N1497.33 appreciated against the dollar on Friday

This represents an N33.66 gain against the dollar compared to N1497.33 traded on Thursday.

Similarly, at the parallel market, the Naira appreciated to N1475 per dollar on Friday from N1555 on Thursday.

This showed that the Naira ended the week well after days of depreciation.

The country’s currency continued to experience instability since mid-April when it recorded months of appreciation.

Meanwhile, the Bureau De Change Operators had blamed forex scarcity for the continued depreciation of Naira.

News

Police dismiss inspector for N29.8m theft, kidnapping

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed one of its officers identified as Adabo Mohammed for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, among others.

Mohammed, who was an Inspector, alongside five others was said to be a member of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

This was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

The statement, titled, ‘Police speak tough on indiscipline, misconduct,’ noted that in a move to uphold professional standards within the Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, stressed the Force’s intolerance to any form of indiscipline.

The statement read partly, “In a decisive move to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has emphasised his administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of indiscipline. He stressed that the mandate of the police is to serve and protect with honour and integrity, and as such all breaches of the core values of the NPF will be met with decisive action to maintain public trust and ensure justice.

“In line with this policy, all cases reported against personnel have been creditably attended to, and justice has been done appropriately. Many of the erring officers have been sanctioned, while some cases are still at the orderly room trial level, and will soon be concluded.

“For instance, a police inspector has been dismissed from service while three others were demoted to their previous ranks following thorough investigations which confirmed their involvement in various acts of indiscipline/crime.”

Adejobi added, “One Inspector Adabo Mohammed was dismissed for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery/kidnapping, and corrupt practice. The dismissed officer, along with five others were members of an armed robbery gang responsible for the robbery of the sum of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, FCT as well as the kidnap of one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor in Tunga Manje, and the collection of ransom sum of N4.4m. The ex-officer has been charged to court accordingly.

“Similarly, the trio of Inspectors Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, attached to the Special Tactical Squad (STS), have been demoted to their previous rank of Sergeant for the extortion of some motorists in Abuja. The trio intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at Gwarinpa, Abuja, and forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m.

“The matter when reported by one Harrison Gwamnishu (#HarrisonBBi18) via the social media platform ‘X’, was taken up and properly investigated. While the monies have been returned to the complainants, the officers were subjected to orderly room trial in line with extant laws, and have been demoted.”

The FPRO noted that some senior officers have “been subjected to the Force Disciplinary Committee hearings” to “scrutinise and address allegations of misconduct against higher-ranking officers of the Force.”

He assured the public that “these measures are taken with the utmost seriousness and are integral to restoring and maintaining their trust. He re-emphasised that the NPF is dedicated to fostering a culture of accountability and respect within all ranks to ensure that police officers serve with integrity.”