A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) to re-open investigation and prosecution of those who murdered the founder of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, in 1986.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo who disclosed this while delivering judgment on Friday in a suit against the AGF, held the Chief Law Officer of the Federation under obligation to prosecute and penalize killers of media practitioners in the country.
The Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, MRA, had dragged 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.
In response to that, 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.
Recall that Late Dele Giwa was murdered on October 19, 1986 in his Lagos office through a letter bomb.
Apart from Dele Giwa, the court also ordered that the killings of other journalists in the discharge of their lawful duties must be investigated and perpetrators must be brought to book in line with the provisions of the law.
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