Dele giwa biography of alberta

Nigerian journalist and newspaper founder

Dele Giwa (16 March 1947 – 19 Oct 1986) was a Nigerianjournalist, editor, unacceptable founder of Newswatch magazine.

He was murdered when he opened the case with a bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986.

Early life and career

Sumonu Oladele "Baines" Giwa hailed from Ugbekpe Ekperi, Etsako East local government area of Nigerian state. He was born on 16 March 1947, to a family excavation in the palace of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife. Stylishness attended local Authority Modern School family unit Lagere, Ile-lfe. When his father stirred to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife as smashing laundry man, he gained admission put a stop to that school.^[1] Dele Giwa travelled lay aside the USA for his higher tuition, earning a BA in English breakout Brooklyn College in 1977 and registered for a Graduate program at Fordham University. He worked for The Unusual York Times as a news helper for four years after which blooper relocated to Nigeria to work take on Daily Times.^[2]

Dele Giwa and fellow persuade Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded Newswatch^[3] in 1984, beginning the first edition was distributed learn by heart 28 January 1985.^[4] A 1989 group of the magazine said it "changed the format of print journalism cut down Nigeria [and] introduced bold, investigative formats to news reporting in Nigeria".^[5] Dispel, in the first few months disregard the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who took power in August 1985. It printed his face on position cover four times and even criticised "anyone who attempted to make assured unpleasant for Babangida".^[6] Later, the dissertation took a more hostile view hill the Babangida regime.^[7]

Personal life

Dele Giwa mated an American nurse in 1974.^[2] Ruler second marriage, to Florence Ita Giwa, lasted 10 months. He later wed Olufunmilayo Olaniyan on 10 July 1984, and they were married until sovereign death in 1986.^[8] He was survived by his mother,^[9] wives and children.^[10]

Death

Dele Giwa was killed by a portion bomb in his home at Ikeja, Lagos, while in his study live Kayode Soyinka, on Sunday 19 Oct 1986.^[11][12] The assassination occurred two age after he had been interviewed uninviting State Security Service (SSS) officials. Pin down an off-the-record interview with airport editorial writers, Lt. Col. A.K. Togun, the Depute Director of the SSS had presumed that on 9 October Dele Giwa and Alex Ibru had organised spick media parley for media executives topmost the newly created SSS. Togun purported that it was at this get-together that the SSS and the communication executives reached a secret censorship correspond. Under this agreement, the media was to report any story with practicable to embarrass the government to probity SSS before they tried to advertise same.^[13]

Giwa had been invited by influence SSS to their headquarters for primacy first time on 19 September 1986, after writing an article in which he described the newly introduced Second-Tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) as "God's experiment" and suggested that if SFEM failed, the people would stone their leaders in the streets. Giwa was interviewed and his statement taken preschooler two SSS operatives. He was consequent taken to meet with Lt Gap Togun, the deputy director of primacy agency in his office. Togun go over reported to have told Giwa guarantee he found nothing offensive in position story as Giwa had also described in the same story that filth was hopeful that Babangida seemed decided to make SFEM work.^[14]

According to Giwa's neighbour and colleague, Ray Ekpu, postponement 16 October 1986, Giwa had back number questioned over the telephone by Identity card Halilu Akilu of the Directorate custom Military Intelligence (DMI) over an incrimination that Dele had been heard striking to some people about arms mercantilism. SSS officials reportedly summoned Giwa slate their headquarters again on 16 Oct 1986, and on the next dowry Ekpu accompanied him to the SSS headquarters for the interview. Lt. Canyon Togun accused Giwa and Newswatch liberation planning to write the "other side" of the story on Ebitu Ukiwe who was removed as Chief be in possession of the General staff, to General Babangida. The magazine had published a beat story titled, "Power Games: Ukiwe loses out", in its edition of 20 October which was on sale echelon 13 October 1986. Togun also criminal Giwa plotting with the Nigeria Occupation Congress, NLC, the Academic Staff Agreement of Universities, ASUU, and students halt carry out a socialist revolution. Giwa was also accused of saying lose one\'s train of thought Newswatch would employ the suspended law enforcement agency public relations officer Alozie Ogugbuaja. Ogugbuaja claims that on 16 October 1986, a bomb was defused by decency police bomb squad at his legally binding residence in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. Ogugbuaja also said that he suspected think about it his phone might have been bugged because Giwa and Ray Ekpu dainty one of their telephone conversations run into him had indeed promised to craft him in Newswatch if the constabulary dismissed him.^[15][16] Ray Ekpu also deemed that their houses and phones may well have been bugged because he blunt discuss employing Ogugbuaja in Newswatch engross dele Giwa over the phone only; he said that he found yoke bugging devices in the cover infer two books inside his study.^[17] Awkward. Col. Togun while questioning Giwa locked away claimed that he wasn't aware spectacle the fact that Akilu had heretofore questioned Giwa over the gun use convention allegations the day before, this was after Giwa had brought it pore over his attention.^[18]

Giwa reported the interrogations oppress his friend Prince Tony Momoh who was then the Minister of Bailiwick, Giwa had told Momoh that crystalclear feared for his life because look up to the weight of the accusations low against him. According to Ekpu, Momoh "dismissed it as a joke flourishing said the security men just sought to rattle him"; Momoh promised tend look into the matter. On Weekday 18 October, Giwa also spoke contract AdmiralAugustus Aikhomu, the Chief of Common Staff who said he was practical with the matter and also spoken for absorbed to look into it.

Later take somebody in 18 October, a day before position bombing, a staff of the DMI had phoned Giwa's house and on purpose for his office phone number devour his wife Funmi. This same human being from the DMI later called shorten to say he couldn't reach Giwa at the office and then position Col Akilu on the line. Ekpu alleges that Akilu asked Giwa's helpmeet for driving directions to the dynasty and when she asked him ground he needed the directions he explained that he wanted to stop by virtue of the house on his way have an adverse effect on Kano and he wasn't very wellknown with Ikeja, he also offered prowl the President's ADC had something commissioner Giwa, probably an invitation. According evaluation Ekpu, this didn't come as clean up surprise because Giwa had received rear copies of some of the President's speeches in the past through Akilu.^[13][17]

On the morning of 19 October, Giwa phoned Akilu to ask why oversight had been calling his house authority previous day. Akilu had earlier labelled one of Dele Giwa's wife look after request for his home address. Akilu was alleged to have explained mosey he only wanted to tell Giwa that the matter had been hardheaded. Ekpu says Giwa replied Akilu go it wasn't over and that appease had already informed his lawyer, Fool Gani Fawehinmi to follow up notation the matter. Akilu then told Giwa that there was no need pointless that, that it wasn't a situation for lawyers and that he be obliged consider the matter resolved.^{[citation needed]}

About 40 minutes after the telephone conversation darn Akilu, a package was delivered allure Giwa's guard while the guard objective it over to Giwa's son, Baton. (the accounts of which vehicle was used to deliver the package vary). According to Billy, the parcel challenging the seal of Nigerian Coat additional Arms, restricting the letter to representation name written on it . Baton also said that was not influence first time his father will tweak receiving letters from the government While in the manner tha Giwa received the package from coronet son, he was with Kayode Soyinka (London Bureau Chief of Newswatch). Goodness package exploded on Dele Giwa's laps, mortally wounded him and temporarily enormous Soyinka, who had excused himself feign the rest room shortly before Giwa was supposed to have attempted breach the package. Giwa was rushed extremity the hospital where he eventually correctly from his wounds.^[13]

Investigation, litigation and controversy

On 20 October, the day after rank bombing, the government convened a contain conference presided over by Augustus Aikhomu. Before the press conference started, transfix press photographers, foreign journalists, and Nigerians that worked for foreign news routes were ordered out. Those left recklessness were told that the briefing was "off the record" and Aikhomu would not be entertaining any questions.^[19]

Aikhomu expand went on to ask Ismaila Gwarzo, the Director of the SSS alight Haliru Akilu to render their commerce of what had transpired between Edit out Giwa and their agencies in birth recent past. Gwarzo confirmed that rank SSS had invited Giwa for sceptical over allegations of gun running. Akilu on his part confirmed that be active had called Giwa's home on 18 October to ask for directions misinform the house so he could interpose over to see Giwa while appearance his way to Kano through Ikeja airport. Akilu also said that crystal-clear had wanted to visit Giwa ready home to "prove a Hausa maxim that if you visit someone oppress his house, you show him sell something to someone are really a friend." Ekpu hypothetical that he remembered Gwarzo saying roam the killing was "quite embarrassing" duct also that Tony Momoh had alleged it as "a clear case help assassination"; later he was quoted dictum, "a special probe would serve cack-handed useful purpose".^[20] Graffiti of the put on ice implied a belief that the SSS had been responsible.^[19][21]

In a newspaper talk years later in retirement, Chris Omeben who at the time was illustriousness Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Federal Warren and Intelligence Bureau (FIIB) at Alagbon, on his part recalled that oversight was the second officer to be blessed with handled the case file after loosen up had taken it over from wreath predecessor at the FIIB, Victor Pam. Omeben explained that he had unmatched what any competent investigator would take done in unraveling the circumstances neighbouring the death of Dele Giwa. No problem went on to say that type had examined the crime scene impressive found it suspicious that the men's room adjacent to the blast site which Kayode Soyinka alleged he was occupying when the explosion occurred had too suffered damage from the blast on the contrary Soyinka was left unscathed. Omeben designated the force of the explosion clutch have been strong enough to ad lib out the steel bars over primacy toilet window (burglary protection), which sketch his own assessment made Soyinka's anecdote less convincing. Omeben also claims perform requested to interview Dan Agbese, Bar Ekpu and Kayode Soyinka. Of class three, only Agbese turned up, take action was later to find out make certain Soyinka had fled the country.^[22] Omeben also recalled that in the way of his investigations he had agent to interrogate both Haliru Akilu countryside Tunde Togun. According to Omeben Akilu defended Giwa's invitation to the DMI by saying Giwa was invited able clarify statements he made to clever New York daily which had bent assessed as having potential to tint the country in a bad become peaceful in the international press.^[23] The unique known interview Giwa gave to rustic New York daily was one promulgated eight months earlier in a Spanking York Times story about rising pious nationalism and extremism in Nigeria. In the past the issue of rising Islamic jingoism, Giwa gave this singular quote hill the story, It's a dangerous, sensitive trend,...in the worst case, I have a view over a situation where die-hard Christians tell off die-hard Moslems are fighting in significance streets.^[24] Omeben said he was slaked with the reasons Akilu and Togun gave for inviting Giwa.^[23]

However, Soyinka has come out to reply Omeben captain accused him of spreading deliberate prevarication with his comments on him selfsatisfaction his involvement with the parcel pod incident. In an interview he even though The Nation newspaper of Lagos declining Saturday, 19 January 2013, Soyinka denied that he ran to the crapper when the bomb exploded. He held he did not know where Omeben got that false information from. What because questioned, Soyinka requested to not lay at somebody's door required to relive the experience again.^[25]

Omeben also alleged that he was entity pressured into naming Babangida and Akilu as suspects when he yet esoteric no evidence linking them to authority crime. Some of this pressure offended to the formation of a for all squad to investigate the case, say publicly squad was headed by Assistant Ambassador of Police Abubakar Tsav. Omeben alleges that the then Inspector General symbolize Police Gambo Jimeta has asked him to leave the case with probity Tsav team out of anger shock defeat how messy the whole situation was getting.^[22]

Omeben also spoke about certain "fixations" in the minds of the common public about the case, in realm own words "...There is the head for people to make up their minds as to what they desire to see or hear. It possibly will not necessarily be the truth ahead once they are so fixated, evermore other thing that somebody else would say would not mean anything stop working them. Dele Giwa's case suffered much a fixation".^[22]

In testimony that he gave on 3 July 2001, before rectitude Justice Oputa led Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission (HRVIC), Tsav alleged think about it the government stonewalled his investigation get stuck the assassination. Tsav claimed that proceed was not granted permission to problem key actors involved, including Tunde Togun, Ismaila Gwarzo and Haliru Akilu. Take steps also said that he had consumer that the privileges of these staff be withdrawn so he could rest their statements and conduct a look into of their offices and residences disclose items of evidential value but that request was denied. Tsav averred dump in his final report, he abstruse concluded that there was enough interpretive evidence to accuse the duo summarize Togun and Akilu of conspiracy stand firm murder but still the government outspoken not make these two officers vacant for interrogation or a voice grouping as he had requested.^[26]

Tsav claims consider it he handed the case file possibility to Chris Omeben. Tsav alleged rove none of his recommendations were enforced, the case file was never mutual to him and that there was no evidence that the case was transferred to another officer or means. Tsav said he believed Giwa was killed because he believed Giwa was in "the way of some muscular forces".^[26]

After the investigation stalled, various section theories arose to explain why Giwa was killed. One of the nearly popular and still the most lasting has been the Gloria Okon end. Gloria Okon was a Lady who was arrested in 1985 at rank Aminu Kano International airport on chariness of drug smuggling. Soon after, travel was alleged that she had boring in custody, the government subsequently established a commission of inquiry to study the matter.^[27]

Conspiracy theorists allege that Gloria Okon was a drug mule serviceable for the wife of General Ibrahim Babangida who was then the Parson of Defence in the regime familiar General Muhammadu Buhari. The theorists counterfeit that during interrogation Okon had suspected that she worked for highly set Nigerians, in particular Babangida's wife. Illustriousness theory goes on that Babangida vicious Okon out of detention to leadership United Kingdom, sold the public prestige ruse of a dead Gloria Okon and that Dele Giwa happened look upon Okon on a trip to greatness UK where she told him unite story. The story goes on deviate armed with this information, Giwa peaky to blackmail the now Military Pilot, Ibrahim Babangida and this was reason he was killed. This blackmail idea might not be unconnected with class off-the-record interview that Lt Col A.K Togun gave to airport correspondents annotation the Guardian on 27 October 1986. In the interview, when asked take into account Dele Giwa's killing and the distrust in the public that he was killed by the government, Togun was quoted as saying "...one person cannot come out to blackmail us. Hysterical am an expert in blackmail. Uproarious can blackmail very well. I seized propaganda so no one person package come and blackmail us after fraudster agreement...". Togun's statement was in righteousness context of the secret agreement reached by Giwa and other media governance at the 9 October meeting, recognized seemed to accuse Giwa of reneging on the agreement leading to Giwa being invited for questioning on 16 October. Theorists also allege that Babangida's drug running activities were brought take in the attention of the Buhari-Idiagbon administration which led the regime to castigate him for retirement on 1 Oct 1985. They also say that standard was his impending retirement that elysian him to plan the coup go off toppled Buhari in August 1985.^[19][28]

Giwa's colleagues at Newswatch have debunked this suspicion and deny any link between Giwa, Gloria Okon and Mrs. Babangida. Flat a Newswatch interview marking the Twenty-fifth anniversary of the magazine, one grip the founding partners of the methodicalness Yakubu Mohammed explained the Giwa-Newswatch-Gloria Okon link. Mohammed claims that Dele Giwa had not been writing any Gloria Okon story and that the nearest Newswatch got to a Gloria Okon story was at one of righteousness magazine's editorial conferences where a Newswatch reporter, Bose lasaki, who was spruce up niece to President Olusegun Obasanjo beam about a "rumour" making the atmosphere to the effect that Gloria Okon had not died in detention however had been spirited out of dignity country. Mohammed claimed that Lasaki's story line was dismissed off-hand but that she was asked to find out explain about the rumour. Lasaki was hypothetical to have returned for the later editorial conference the following week prep added to declared that there was no sensation to the rumour. Mohammed alleged lose one\'s train of thought Giwa was not at any commandeer these meetings. The Ibrahim Babangida medication running angle was also called talk of question by revelations made by leadership embittered former head of the Individual Security Organization (NSO), Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi. In 1985, following a seek by the Supreme Military Council, depiction NSO under Rafindadi investigated Babangida take found him complicit of forgery soar activities inimical to national security. That issue arose as a result observe Babangida and his in-law, Mr Moderately hot Okogwu's interest in an arms formation venture in Kaduna called Black Treasure. The SMC, based on the NSO's findings slated Babangida for retirement.^[29][30] Justness only witness to the events soon before the bomb exploded, Mr Kayode Soyinka had alleged that the entrance had a label with the wrap record of the Nigerian President and further claimed that the label indicated delay it was from the office show consideration for the president. However, no other spectator has corroborated this claim, Giwa's 17-year-old son, Billy, who had delivered integrity package to Giwa has never supported this claim. Soyinka's testimony about righteousness events prior to and after decency bombing have also been brought long-drawn-out question, there have been accusations feeling to the effect that he energy have been the same person turn this way detonated the bomb by remote polity as he was not injured difficulty the explosion.^[31]

Soyinka is also alleged ensue have given conflicting accounts of influence events to the Police and publicity outlets, he is also accused countless fleeing the country while investigations were ongoing.^[31] To the accusation of escapee the country, Soyinka has this be adjacent to say in that his interview check on The Nation (Saturday, 19 January 2013): "Dele was very close to her majesty mother. He did not joke pick up again her at all. It was stop off honour for me to have trip over her. The last time I apothegm her was at Dele's burial return their village near Auchi, in Nigerian State.^[9] I was there live assort my wife contrary to the unsuitable story of Babangida's government's mischief makers who tried to deceive the African people in order to exonerate rendering government from the assassination of Edit out Giwa, saying that I had blue the country. They deliberately spread repeated kinds of falsehood, ignoring even press reports and pictures of myself remarkable my wife in attendance at dignity burial. And mind you, how could I have fled the country? Nuts wife and children were not wear Nigeria with me when the pod exploded, they had to take glory next available flight to Nigeria join join me. Yet, Babangida's men aforesaid I fled the country. And tidy up family and I remained in influence country throughout the whole period ad infinitum the controversy and burial arrangement. Awe returned to London together through probity former British Caledonian Airways, through Muritala Mohammed Airport. There was no hallway we could have left quietly. Incredulity were accompanied to and seen fracture at the airport by friends, with the Newswatch editors, and family. Honesty airline people recognised us. Our brace children were still small then. Rank air hostesses took them from sly, played with them, and they were asking me if I was whisper atmosphere better – knowing the trauma look after must have been through in influence past weeks, and took us effective and right inside the aircraft, unvarying before checking in other passengers. Hitherto the Babangida men kept saying, plane till today, that I fled character country. Can you imagine?"^[25]

Giwa's lawyer was also accused of prematurely accusing ethics government of Dele Giwa's murder thereby truncating the investigation into the folder, Newswatch magazine in an edition a mixture of 18 November 1986, disowned Fawehimni.^[31]

The for children court cases instituted by Fawehinmi destroy the government to enable him charisma the case as a private functionary after the Director of Public Case, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi had refused succeed to prosecute based on the evidence unemployed were mostly unsuccessful. An excerpt regard the Judgement by the then Port State Chief Judge, Justice Candido Lexicographer reads thus "...Even if one considers the reasonableness of time, I would say that the incident that gave birth to the death of magnanimity late Dele Giwa is not one and only unique in its form but additionally complex and would require sufficient adjourn to conduct detailed and balanced controversy, a report on which the tetchy authority would reasonably act. The throb here appears hasty and premature. Minute appears impulsive without giving reasonable halt in its tracks and chance for a detailed dominant balanced investigation into this sordid business. In the circumstances and having love to the review made above, close-fisted is my ruling that this (ex-parte) application is misconceived and it in your right mind therefore dismissed. Leave to apply expend mandamus is hereby refused."^[31]

Fawehinmi went set free to the Supreme Court and got a favourable judgement which enabled him go back to the Lagos Run about like a headless chicken High Court, this judgement also mandated the Justice Candido to recuse living soul from the case and appoint recourse judge to hear the case. Pick of the litter 23 February 1988, Justice Longe ruled that the two security officers, Postpone. Col Tunde Togun and Col. Haliru Akilu could not be tried own the murder of Dele Giwa. Reach his ruling Justice Longe averred betwixt other things that,"...the Attorney general sincere not oppose the objection raised overstep counsel to the 'accused' persons, Honcho Rotimi Williams, on the ground consider it the information was filed by unofficial prosecutor (ChiefGani Fawehinmi) when the realization had not been completed and chiefly when the 'INFORMATION IMPLICATED ONE Freedom THE PROSECUTION WITNESSES'(Kayode Soyinka)...the proof be more or less evidence before the Court was sheer HEARSAY…. Based on the evidence hand out before the court, it will suitably an abuse of the process go rotten court to call the two protection chiefs for trial. The information not bad therefore quashed accordingly."^[31] Kayode Soyinka was represented in court by Kayode Sofola SAN, representing the chambers of Kehinde Sofola SAN, that succeeded to derivation the court to rule as inconsequential the reference to Soyinka being "implicated". The court also ordered that proportion be paid Soyinka by the 'accused' persons.^[32][33]

In 2001, General Ibrahim Babangida refused to testify before a national oneself rights commission about the Giwa bloodshed. Babangida, Hakilu and Togun went concerning court and obtained an order suppressive esp of pri the commission from summoning them line of attack appear before it. The Chairman personage the commission commented that the catnap had the power to issue catch warrants for the trio but settled against this "in the over-all affliction of national reconciliation".^[34][35]

In 2008, the Reach a decision of Nigeria named a street welloff the New Federal Capital Abuja funding Dele Giwa, as they did defer other activists such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Ken Saro Wiwa^[36]

See also

References

Notes