Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has issued a directive to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to reopen the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Dele Giwa, the founder of Newswatch Magazine, in 1986.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo emphasized the legal obligation of the AGF to pursue justice for slain media professionals in Nigeria. Dele Giwa was assassinated on October 19, 1986, in his office in Lagos by a letter bomb.
Beyond Giwa’s case, the court mandated the investigation and prosecution of other instances where journalists were killed in the line of duty, in accordance with the law.
Furthermore, Justice Ekwo instructed the federal government to ensure the adequate protection and safety of journalists, as stipulated 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 initiated legal action against the AGF to enforce the fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and the African Charters on Human Rights.
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