BEVERLY HILLS, JULY 22, (THEWILL) – Almost 16 years after the gruesome murder of Nigeria’s ex- Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered a reopening of investigations into the killing.
Although the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, clarified that the decision was purely that of the new Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, what is most important is that fresh investigations may have commenced on the murder.
Another reopening of investigations ordered was in the case of the then Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo.
The decision to revisit these cases, which had reached dead ends shows that no matter how long justice may seem to have been denied, the quest for it will not cease until the real culprits are fished out and made to account for their crimes.
The reopening of these cases have been hailed in many circles across political divides. This is borne out of the conviction that such investigation would sanitize Nigeria’s political turf and make it attractive for new professionals and purposeful leaders. As presently practiced, politics in the country is seen as a do-or-die affair, which only lion-hearted men and women dare jump into. While Ige was killed in his bedroom in Bodija, Ibadan, in 2001, Dikibo was ambushed and killed in Delta State while returning from a political meeting.
Inasmuch as the yardstick used in ordering for the reopening of both cases remains unclear, it is expedient that the scope be widened to include the very many murder cases especially high profile ones that have happened in Nigeria, the investigations of which are yet to be concluded.
THEWILL commends the new police leadership for this bold initiative, but it must prove that the action is well intended by ensuring that all known political killings are promptly included for further investigations. That would go a long way in proving the move as genuine meant only to make the country a safer place to live and play politics.
THEWILL demands that the mysterious murder of the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, the late MKO Abiola and his wife Kudirat, be included in the searchlight. Also calling for investigations is the case of the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Engr. Funso Williams, who was murdered in his bedroom as well as that of a chieftain of the then All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, Harry Marshall.
In the new spirit of demystifying these murders, the death of front-line journalist, Dele Giwa, who was killed by a parcel bomb in his sitting room in 1986, also calls for a revisit, among others.
It is heartwarming that those who have lauded this decision include the prime suspects in Ige’s murder: former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan. The two accused persons in the case have declared support for the reopened investigation, urging the Federal Government and the police to widen search for the killers and other killings.
We recall that an Ibadan High Court prosecuted Omisore and other suspects before they were eventually discharged and acquitted.
It is commendable too that the opposition seems to have united along this line of reason. Lagos state chapter of PDP and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, a staunch opposition of the current government, has separately lauded the decision, but demanded that other murder cases be reopened.
Nigerians are watching to see the direction these investigations would take. This is against the backdrop of claims that the reopening may be aimed at prosecuting opposition elements. Those who think along this line cite an instance with the allegation linking Omisore to Ige’s death. Omisore is currently under investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Under the circumstance, one major way the police can floor this supposition and prove that it is altruistic as well as interested in bringing about an entirely new political atmosphere is by extending the investigations to encompass all past political killings.
We urge the public to use this auspicious opportunity to volunteer privileged information on all murder cases in this regard. The police should open dedicated phone numbers and places where such information can be made available and acted upon. This is however not without the police guaranteeing the protection of those volunteering such Information.
Beyond that, the Federal Government and the National Assembly must put measures in place that would institutionalize getting to the root of political assassinations. Often times, murder suspects are let off the hook, even when there is compelling evidence linking them to particular killings.
For their sake, such suspected persons should assist in the investigation of cases for which they are accused, so as to clear their name and make the public know that the alleged tag on them is misplaced and baseless.
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