The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N50m to the family of a slain Abuja-based journalist, Alex Ogbu.
Ogbu was covering a protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who were demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, when he was hit by a bullet from one of the police officers deployed to the scene on January 21, 2020.
The police had claimed the journalist died after he fell and hit his head on a stone. But the autopsy done on the corpse revealed the cause of death as blood loss resulting from gunshot injuries.
A group of activists had, in a bid to secure justice for the slain journalist, dragged the police and the Federal Government before the court.
A statement on Wednesday by the Co-coordinators of Justice for Alex – Gerald Katchy and Dimeji Macaulay – said Justice Mohammed Abubakar ordered the police to pay the family of the slain journalist N50m.
The statement read: “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.
“Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Court 58, Kurudu has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay the sum of N50,000,000 to the family of the late Alex Ogbu, who was killed on January 21, 2020 during a protest of the Shi’ites.
“Alex left behind a young daughter and an unemployed wife. We are determined to get justice and we call on all Nigerians of goodwill to join us in this struggle until justice is served.”
The group expressed appreciation to human rights lawyer, 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.’’
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