Mohammed Shosanya
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) to re-open investigation and prosecution of those involved in the gruesome killing of the founder of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, on October 19, 1986.
He was murdered in his Lagos office through a letter bomb.
Justice Inyang Ekwo made the order on Friday, while delivering judgment in a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda against the AGF.
By the suit,MRA had sought the enforcement of fundamental rights of media professionals to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and African Charters on Human Rights.
Justice Ekwo held that the AGF as Chief Law Officer of the Federation was under obligation to prosecute and penalize killers of media practitioners in the country including the late Giwa.
Besides,the court ordered that the killings of other journalists in the discharge of their lawful duties must be investigated and perpetrators brought to book in line with the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo ordered the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection and safety of lives of journalists as enshrined in sections 33, 39 of the Constitution and Articles 4 and 9 of the African Charters on Human and Peoples Rights.
