Dele Giwa’s family wants FG to re-open probe on his murder

By  Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE family of the late publisher of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, weekend called on the Federal Government to re-open investigation into the gruesome murder of their son. They also lamented being abandoned by friends and government, despite the contributions of the late Giwa to journalism in the country.

Giwa was killed 23 years ago in his study through a parcel bomb, and his death had gone down as one of the unresolved murder cases in the country.

As a memorial lecture is being held in his honour today, by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State chapter, the younger sister of the deceased, Mrs. Ronke Aboaba, wants the Federal Government to order fresh investigation into the murder in line with the rule of law policy of the present government.

Mrs. Aboaba, who was with the deceased before his death, called on the police to make public their findings into the cause of the murder of his late brother so that the family and the world at large would know the truth.

She lamented that it has not been easy for the family, including their aged mother, Elekhira Giwa, who is in her 80s now, adding that she had refused to comment on the death of her son and had expressed disappointment on her son’s close friends who abandoned the family shortly after the incident.

She, however, singled out some Nigerians, such as Yemi Ogunbiyi, Abdul-Azeez Udeh, Ken Olumese, late Gani Fawehinmi, late MKO Abiola, May Ellen Ezekel, Richard Ikiebe as those who stood with the family.

According to her, “it has been a kind of up and down story, it has been tough, not just for myself but my family, including my mother.

“I was in my final year in the university when my brother died. Prior to that period, we had a good relationship with the Newswatch, there was a trust fund then claimed to have been set up by friends which they claimed was set up to cater for the family, part of it was actually used for my school fees in my final year.

“Billy (Dele’s son) was in the third year, that also sponsored him then and the other two girls; Aisha and Funmi.

“As I am talking to you now, my late brother’s children have lost faith in the country due to the experience they had with Nigerians and some of their father’s friends.

“I could remember my brother’s children in the US, somebody called me and said they went to a particularly guy who once worked in Newswatch, who was very close to my late brother, who moved to US then, they went to him to demand for a very little assistance and he turned them down, then I became very bitter.

“They said they set up a trust-fund, if they cannot help the family with this trust-fund, then the children should have access to it.

“I once took my late brother’s daughter, Funmi, to get assistance for her school fees (N35,000) from the trust-fund, but disappointedly, I was told there was no money for her, that the school was too expensive.”