By Godfrey AKON
An Abuja High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay the sum of N50 million to the family of slain journalist, Comrade Alex Ogbu, as compensation.
Ogbu was brutally murdered during a riot between the Nigerian Police Force and members of Islamic Movement, Shiite in 2020.
Justice Mohammed Abubakar, who delivered the judgment at Court 58 Kurudu, Abuja, blamed the police for the extra-judicial killing, saying the primary job of law enforcement agents is to protect life and property.
A statement by the Publisher of Regent AfricaTimes, Shola Akingboye, on Wednesday, recalled that on Wednesday 22nd January 2020, the media community woke up to the devastating news of the brutal death of Comrade Ogbu.
The slain Nigerian journalist and activist fell to the Nigerian Police’s stray bullet during one of the Shiite movement’s struggles against the Federal Government at Berger Roundabout in Abuja.
Available reports had it that the victim was allegedly hit by a police bullet on the head and died on the spot.
An eyewitness account at the time of the incident revealed that the journalist was directly fired in the head, killed and their body dragged from the spot to another direction during the sporadic rain of live bullets on members of the Shiite movement.
“The incident sparked national debate at the time. After three-and-a-half years of legal battles and activism by various civil society organizations including senior legal practitioners across the country, demanding justice for the late journalist, today, 21st June 2023, the family and the circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death have been vindicated by the Abuja court and justice served,” the statement said.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abubakar, picked holes about the attitude of the security operatives in handling live ammunitions in public.
The judge particularly frowned at the nonchalant disposition of the Nigerian Police, saying the police force had nothing to defend for reasons they never appeared in court over the matter.
Abubakar lampooned the immediate past Attorney General for trying to cover the Nigerian Police Force, saying the extra-judicial killing is one too many.
Meanwhile, the legal battle for justice for the late journalist suffered several setbacks and adjournments due to a lack of financial muscle by the widow of the diseased but the family remained undaunted.
Reacting, the unemployed widow of the late journalist, Mrs. Fransisca Alex Ogbu, after the judgment on Wednesday, expressed her appreciation to the well-meaning Nigerians who joined in the battle for justice.
“I want to express my appreciation to the good people of Nigeria who stood by me in achieving today’s judgment three years after, most especially Chief 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 are determined to get justice and we call on all Nigerians of goodwill to join us in this struggle until justice is fully served.
“My appreciation also goes to the judiciary. Even though no amount of compensation can take the place of the love of my life, Alex, the judiciary has once again proved that indeed, it is the hope of the common man, now I believe.
“Today’s justice appears delayed, but it is never a justice denied; after the dark tunnel, there is always the light.
“My candid appeal now goes to concern Nigerians, not to relent in joining me to ensure that justice is fully served with today’s judgment. Let those in authority adhere to the judgment without any further delay.
” I am a graduate, unemployed even before the death of my husband, and life became tough for me, especially in bringing up the little girl left behind by my late husband.
” I want the federal government to attend to the judgment for enforcement without any delay,” Fransisca appealed.
Before his death, Alex Ogbu had his last shot in journalism as an Associate Editor on political matters at the RegentAfrica Times. He had served as the Editor of the African Herald Express between 2009 and 2012.