Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has claimed that former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), obstructed efforts to uncover the truth behind the death of journalist Dele Giwa.
Speaking on *Politics Today* on Channels Television while reacting to IBB’s recently released memoir, *A Journey in Service*, Falana noted that Babangida also ordered the execution of General Mamman Vatsa despite their close childhood friendship.
He further stated that Dele Giwa’s lawyer and friend, Gani Fawehinmi, made significant efforts to seek justice but was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Falana said, “IBB frustrated the attempt by the state to uncover the cause to Dele Giwa’s death. His relationship with General Vatsa was much closer than that of Dele Giwa. Vatsa was his best man. They grew up together. They were sleeping in the same room as bachelors, but he was killed without any basis.
“But coming to Dele Giwa, in October 19, 1986, when that unfortunate incident happened, one of the early callers in Dele Giwa’s house, was the the information minster of the junta and he said publically – because the novel manner of the death; we had never seen it before. We would have public inquiry. Two days later, the junta reneged on the decision of public inquiry.
“That was not enough, the late Chief Gani Faweyinmi, a personal friend and lawyer to Dele Giwa took up the matter. He wrote to the government and said that if they were not willing to prosecute I would persecute.
“The government ignored him and Gani went to court. But he was told that he had no locus standi. He went to he court of appeal and it was the same ruling.
“But the Supreme Court held that they can’t challenge a concerned citizen for questioning the death of another person.”
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