Slain Journalist
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N50 million to the family of Alexander Ogbu, a reporter with the Abuja-based publication, RegentAfrica Times, who was shot dead on January 14, 2020
Gerald Katchy and Dimeji Macaulay, co-coordinators of the Justice for Alex group disclosed this development in a statement on June 21, 2023
Alexander was killed by a bullet from a police officer’s riffle while reporting a protest held by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The police took his body which they dumped in the morgue claiming he was a victim of motor accident. However, an autopsy conducted on the body revealed that the primary cause of his death was haemorrhage due to gunshot wounds.
A group of activists thereafter, dragged the police and the Federal government to court, seeking justice for the slain journalist and his family.
In his judgment, Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abuja sitting at Court 58, Kurudu ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay the sum of N50 million to the family of the late journalist.
