AN Abuja High Court sitting in Kurudu on Wednesday ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to the sum of N50 million to the family of slain journalist, Mr Alex Ogbu who was killed by a trigger-happy senior police officer while covering a protest in Abuja, in 2020.
A statement issued by the Co-coordinators of Justice for Alex, Comrades Gerald Katchy and Dimeji Macaulay on Wednesday announced that FCT High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Abubakar gave the order three years after a frustrating litigation.
The statement, which described the late Ogbu as a journalist, trade unionist and human rights activist, said he was killed on January 21, 2020, at Berger Roundabout, Wuse, Abuja while a detachment of police cracked down on protesters calling for the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of a Shi’ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
The statement, entitled: “JUSTICE FOR ALEX CAMPAIGN” reads:
“Recall that Comrade Alex Ogbu, a journalist, trade unionist and human rights activist was felled by police bullet on January 21, 2020, at Berger Roundabout, Wuse, Abuja. The incident happened during a brutal police crackdown on protesters calling for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
“Today we have been vindicated by the court and justice has been served, after three and a half years of legal and political battles. The case suffered so many adjournments with frustrations but we remained undaunted.
“Today, the Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting at Court 58, Kurudu has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay the sum of N50,000,000 (fifty million Naira) to the family of late Comrade Alex Ogbu that was killed on 21 January, 2020 during a protest of the shiites.
“Comrade Alex left behind a young daughter and an unemployed wife. We are determined to get justice and we call on all Nigerians of good will to join us in this struggle until justice is absolutely served.
“We appreciate Comrade Femi Falana (SAN), Abubakar Marshal and other lawyers who helped us on this case. We appreciate all the comrades and friends who stood by the family.
“We shall keep the public abreast of all developments as we have always done.”
