AN FEDERAL High Court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday ordered the federal government to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of the murder of founder of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, and other journalists in the country.
Justice Ekwo, in the judgment, also made an order directing the federal government to take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners henceforth.
The applicant; the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), had sued the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) as sole respondent in the suit dated and filed in October 26, 2021.
In the motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1301/2021, the applicant sought a declaration that the killing of various journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria is a violation of their fundamental right to life.
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This right, according to MRA, is encapsulated in section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among other reliefs.
In the affidavit, MRA listed some of the journalists murdered in the course of their duty to include Dele Giwa, killed on October 19, 1986; and Bolade Fasisi of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), March 31, 1998.
Others include Edward Olalekan of Daily Times, murdered on June 1, 1999; Omololu Falobi of The Punch, October 5, 2006; Godwin Agbroko of Thisday, December 22, 1999; Abayomi Ogundeji of Thisday, August 17, 2008; and Edo Sule-Ugbagwu of The Nation, April 24, 2010.
Justice Ekwo, who observed that the AGF did not file any process to counter the arguments of the applicant, held that since the group’s arguments were not controverted, such arguments would be deemed to be true.
“I have studied the response of the respondent to the averments of the applicant and I find the said averments to be generic nature and they do not controvert the case of the applicant specifically.
“The applicant has stated names of journalists killed in Paragraph J of the affidavit in support. It is pertinent to note that the respondent has neither denied that these killings have taken placed or that these persons were not journalists or media practitioners.
“The position of the law is that affidavit evidence which is not challenged or controverted howsoever, is deemed admitted and can be relied upon by a court,” Justice Ekwo held.
He further held that media is a constitutional profession, hence, the journalists and media practitioners ought to be protected in the course of their duties.
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The judge also held that he found in the end that the applicant had established its case by credible evidence and ought to be entitled to the reliefs sought.
“An Order is hereby made directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners.
“An Order is hereby made directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of all attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that all victims of attacks against journalists have access to effective remedies.
“An Order is hereby made directing the Federal Government to take measures to raise awareness and build the capacities of various stakeholders, particularly journalists and other media practitioners, policy makers, law enforcement, security, intelligence, military as well as other officials and relevant stakeholders on the laws and standards for ensuring the safety of journalists and media practitioners. “This is the judgment of this court,” Justice Ekwo declared. (NAN)
