The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order directing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to reopen the investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for the murder of Dele Giwa, the founder of Newswatch Magazine, in 1986.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in delivering the judgment, emphasized that the Attorney General of the Federation has a duty to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the killings of media practitioners in the country.
Recall that Mister Dele Giwa was murdered on October 19, 1986, in his Lagos office through a letter bomb.
In addition to the case of Dele Giwa, the court ordered that the killings of other journalists who lost their lives while carrying out their lawful duties must also be thoroughly investigated. Perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable according to the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo further directed the Federal Government to guarantee the adequate protection and safety of journalists’ lives, in accordance with the provisions outlined in sections 33 and 39 of the Constitution, as well as Articles 4 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, MRA, had sued the AGF before the court for the enforcement of fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and African Charters on Human Rights.