A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute the killers of journalists in Nigeria from 1986 to 2023.
Among those killed within this period is the founder of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa; Bolade Fasisi of National Association of Women Journalists on March 31, 1998; Edwrard Olalekan of Daily Times on June1, 1999; Omololu Falobi of The Punch on October 5, 2006; Godwin Agbroko of ThisDay on December 22, 1999; Abayomi Ogundeji of ThisDay, on August 17, 2008; Edo Sule-Ugbagwu of The Nation, on April 24, 2010, among others.
The Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation seeking several reliefs including a declaration that the killing of Nigerian journalists is a violation of their fundamental rights to life.
The organisation also sought the enforcement of the fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and African Charter on Human Rights.
Some journalists are still being harassed by security agencies with the AGF allegedly doing nothing about it, allegedly.
While giving judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection and safety of the lives of journalists as enshrined in Sections 33, and 39 of the Constitution and Articles 4 and 9 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.He held that the AGF, being the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, is under obligation to prosecute and penalise killers of media practitioners in the country.
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