A rights campaigner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, on Saturday, called on the media to intensify advocacy for reopening of unresolved murder cases.
Falana made the call at an interactive session and press conference entitled: “The Role of Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria”.
The event was organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in Ikeja, Lagos to mark World Press Freedom Day.
Falana urged journalists to use their platforms to demand justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and other abuses, noting that several high-profile cases had been abandoned without accountability.
He said that the media must not allow such cases to be forgotten.
Falana cited instances of killings in Lagos allegedly involving policemen, saying that some murder cases had not been revisited in spite of public outcry.
He listed cases deserving reopening to include the alleged murder of 13-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lagos and the Offa bank robbery incident of 2018 in Kwara.
He also listed the murder of Kudurat Abiola, the wife of Chief MKO Abiola, among the cases, as well as the murder of six traders at Owode Oninrin, Lagos State, last August.
He said that the media should follow-up on rights violation cases until resolved, as part of its watchdog function.
The human rights activist said that the media had not adequately invoked the Freedom of Information Act to seek and obtain information that would promote accountability, justice and good governance.
He urged media managers not to sacrifice professionalism for commercial gains through wrap-around advertisements.
A newspaper wrap-around (or wrap) is a high-impact advertising format where a customised, printed sheet covers the front page and often the back page of a newspaper.
Falana said that the such a practice undermined public trust.
“The media must not sacrifice truth and objectivity on the altar of commercial gains,” he said.
Falana emphasised that the media had a constitutional duty to hold government accountable and defend the rights of citizens.
He called on journalists to prioritise public interest reporting and resist pressure that could weaken their watchdog role.
He highlighted the importance of regional human rights mechanisms, saying that Nigerians could seek justice beyond national borders.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen institutions responsible for justice delivery and ensure that victims of rights violations receive justice in time.
Falana also called for greater collaboration between civil society organisations and the media to promote accountability and protect citizens’ rights.
He reiterated that the fight against human rights violation required sustained efforts from all stakeholders, including journalists, lawyers and human rights campaigners.
Later, a communique was jointly read by Gabriel Akinadewo, Assistant General Secretary of NGE on behalf of the General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, and SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
