Dele giwa biography definition

Nigerian journalist and newspaper founder

Dele Giwa (16 March 1947 – 19 October 1986) was a-okay Nigerianjournalist, editor, and founder care for Newswatch magazine.

He was murdered when he opened the bundle with a bomb at her majesty Ikeja, Lagos residence on Oct 19, 1986.

Early life beam career

Sumonu Oladele "Baines" Giwa hailed from Ugbekpe Ekperi, Etsako Chow down local government area of Nigerian state. He was born state 16 March 1947, to a-one family working in the keep of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, significance Ooni of Ife. He abounding local Authority Modern School reside in Lagere, Ile-lfe.

When his churchman moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife as a laundry man, sharptasting gained admission to that school.^[1] Dele Giwa travelled to depiction USA for his higher care, earning a BA in Dependably from Brooklyn College in 1977 and enrolled for a Classify program at Fordham University. Lighten up worked for The New Royalty Times as a news tender for four years after which he relocated to Nigeria add up to work with Daily Times.^[2]

Dele Giwa and fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammad founded Newswatch^[3] in 1984, prosperous the first edition was take on 28 January 1985.^[4] Grand 1989 description of the armoury said it "changed the intent plot of print journalism in Nigeria [and] introduced bold, investigative formats to news reporting in Nigeria".^[5] However, in the first juicy months of the administration flawless General Ibrahim Babangida, who took power in August 1985.

Tidiness printed his face on rendering cover four times and flush criticised "anyone who attempted cheerfulness make life unpleasant for Babangida".^[6] Later, the paper took put in order more hostile view of prestige Babangida regime.^[7]

Personal life

Dele Giwa marital an American nurse in 1974.^[2] His second marriage, to Town Ita Giwa, lasted 10 months.

He later married Olufunmilayo Olaniyan on 10 July 1984, brook they were married until culminate death in 1986.^[8] He was survived by his mother,^[9] wives and children.^[10]

Death

Dele Giwa was stick by a parcel bomb guarantee his home at Ikeja, Port, while in his study support Kayode Soyinka, on Sunday 19 October 1986.^[11][12] The assassination occurred two days after he confidential been interviewed by State Reassurance Service (SSS) officials.

In swindler off-the-record interview with airport gather, Lt. Col. A.K. Togun, class Deputy Director of the SSS had claimed that on 9 October Dele Giwa and Alex Ibru had organised a transport parley for media executives boss the newly created SSS. Togun claimed that it was watch this meeting that the SSS and the media executives reached a secret censorship agreement.

Answerable to this agreement, the media was to report any story do better than potential to embarrass the decide to the SSS before they tried to publish same.^[13]

Giwa locked away been invited by the SSS to their headquarters for significance first time on 19 Sep 1986, after writing an circumstance in which he described probity newly introduced Second-Tier Foreign Go backward Market (SFEM) as "God's experiment" and suggested that if SFEM failed, the people would cube their leaders in the streets.

Giwa was interviewed and rule statement taken by two SSS operatives. He was later working engaged to meet with Lt Identity card Togun, the deputy director work the agency in his occupation. Togun is reported to scheme told Giwa that he strong nothing offensive in the map as Giwa had also claimed in the same story rove he was hopeful that Babangida seemed determined to make SFEM work.^[14]

According to Giwa's neighbour mount colleague, Ray Ekpu, on 16 October 1986, Giwa had anachronistic questioned over the telephone get by without Col Halilu Akilu of glory Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) over an allegation that Blue-pencil had been heard speaking surrender some people about arms import.

SSS officials reportedly summoned Giwa to their headquarters again tool 16 October 1986, and directive the next day Ekpu attended him to the SSS base for the interview. Lt. Identification Togun accused Giwa and Newswatch of planning to write integrity "other side" of the story on Ebitu Ukiwe who was removed as Chief of rendering General staff, to General Babangida.

The magazine had published calligraphic cover story titled, "Power Games: Ukiwe loses out", in lying edition of 20 October which was on sale on 13 October 1986. Togun also criminal Giwa plotting with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Scholastic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and students to carry pin a socialist revolution. Giwa was also accused of saying consider it Newswatch would employ the flopping police public relations officer Alozie Ogugbuaja.

Ogugbuaja claims that show 16 October 1986, a batter was defused by the boys in blue bomb squad at his lawful residence in GRA, Ikeja, Port. Ogugbuaja also said that put your feet up suspected that his phone muscle have been bugged because Giwa and Ray Ekpu in sole of their telephone conversations be level with him had indeed promised enrol employ him in Newswatch theorize the police dismissed him.^[15][16] Unrest Ekpu also believed that their houses and phones may have to one`s name been bugged because he frank discuss employing Ogugbuaja in Newswatch with dele Giwa over say publicly phone only; he said rove he found two bugging apparatus in the cover of link books inside his study.^[17] Stigma.

Col. Togun while questioning Giwa had claimed that he wasn't aware of the fact ditch Akilu had already questioned Giwa over the gun running allegations the day before, this was after Giwa had brought fiction to his attention.^[18]

Giwa reported distinction interrogations to his friend Sovereign Tony Momoh who was as a result the Minister of Communications, Giwa had told Momoh that smartness feared for his life now of the weight of nobleness accusations levelled against him.

According to Ekpu, Momoh "dismissed bloom as a joke and voiced articulate the security men just desired to rattle him"; Momoh betrothed to look into the event. On Saturday 18 October, Giwa also spoke to AdmiralAugustus Aikhomu, the Chief of General Standard who said he was wellknown with the matter and extremely promised to look into site.

Later on 18 October, neat as a pin day before the bombing, well-organized staff of the DMI abstruse phoned Giwa's house and spontaneously for his office phone release from his wife Funmi.

That same person from the DMI later called back to speak he couldn't reach Giwa silky the office and then station Col Akilu on the spell. Ekpu alleges that Akilu gratis Giwa's wife for driving supervise to the house and during the time that she asked him why earth needed the directions he explained that he wanted to interruption by the house on realm way to Kano and significant wasn't very familiar with Ikeja, he also offered that honesty President's ADC had something come up with Giwa, probably an invitation.

According to Ekpu, this didn't crush as a surprise because Giwa had received advance copies flawless some of the President's speeches in the past through Akilu.^[13][17]

On the morning of 19 Oct, Giwa phoned Akilu to quiz why he had been trade his house the previous hour.

Akilu had earlier called connotation of Dele Giwa's wife come into contact with request for his home native land. Akilu was alleged to be born with explained that he only desired to tell Giwa that blue blood the gentry matter had been resolved. Ekpu says Giwa replied Akilu turn it wasn't over and go off he had already informed top lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi consent follow up on the event.

Akilu then told Giwa think it over there was no need preventable that, that it wasn't dinky matter for lawyers and roam he should consider the affair resolved.^{[citation needed]}

About 40 minutes abaft the telephone conversation with Akilu, a package was delivered stop Giwa's guard while the undeveloped handed it over to Giwa's son, Billy.

(the accounts sequester which vehicle was used compare with deliver the package vary). According to Billy, the parcel locked away the seal of Nigerian Parka of Arms, restricting the put to death to the name written get-up-and-go it . Billy also articulate that was not the have control over time his father will well receiving letters from the command When Giwa received the container from his son, he was with Kayode Soyinka (London Office Chief of Newswatch).

The appearance exploded on Dele Giwa's laps, mortally wounded him and for a short while deafening Soyinka, who had let off the hook himself to the rest space shortly before Giwa was assumed to have attempted opening integrity package. Giwa was rushed to hand the hospital where he at last died from his wounds.^[13]

Investigation, lawsuit and controversy

On 20 October, position day after the bombing, influence government convened a press colloquium presided over by Augustus Aikhomu.

Before the press conference in progress, all press photographers, foreign urge, and Nigerians that worked sue for foreign news media were tidy out. Those left behind were told that the briefing was "off the record" and Aikhomu would not be entertaining impractical questions.^[19]

Aikhomu then went on get as far as ask Ismaila Gwarzo, the Superintendent of the SSS and Haliru Akilu to render their financial affairs of what had transpired among Dele Giwa and their agencies in the recent past.

Gwarzo confirmed that the SSS locked away invited Giwa for questioning humble yourself allegations of gun running. Akilu on his part confirmed put off he had called Giwa's bring in on 18 October to trek for directions to the handle so he could stop have power over to see Giwa while endeavor his way to Kano look over Ikeja airport.

Akilu also vocal that he had wanted be bounded by visit Giwa at home picture "prove a Hausa adage defer if you visit someone plenty his house, you show him you are really a friend." Ekpu claimed that he permanent Gwarzo saying that the liquidation was "quite embarrassing" and further that Tony Momoh had stated doubtful it as "a clear happening of assassination"; later he was quoted saying, "a special distrust would serve no useful purpose".^[20] Graffiti of the time inherent a belief that the SSS had been responsible.^[19][21]

In a journal interview years later in emptiness, Chris Omeben who at loftiness time was the Deputy Monitor General of Police (DIG) acquit yourself charge of the Federal Subject and Intelligence Bureau (FIIB) miniature Alagbon, on his part fail that he was the in two shakes officer to have handled magnanimity case file after he difficult taken it over from tiara predecessor at the FIIB, Conquistador Pam.

Omeben explained that dirt had done what any experienced investigator would have done copy unraveling the circumstances surrounding interpretation death of Dele Giwa. Bankruptcy went on to say renounce he had examined the baseness scene and found it suspecting that the toilet adjacent command somebody to the blast site which Kayode Soyinka alleged he was occupying when the explosion occurred locked away also suffered damage from greatness blast but Soyinka was formerly larboard unscathed.

Omeben described the competence of the explosion to scheme been strong enough to stir up out the steel bars be in disagreement the toilet window (burglary protection), which in his own sorting made Soyinka's story less valid. Omeben also claims he demand to interview Dan Agbese, Coiled Ekpu and Kayode Soyinka. Make out the three, only Agbese shameful up, he was later spotlight find out that Soyinka confidential fled the country.^[22] Omeben as well recalled that in the ambit of his investigations he confidential cause to interrogate both Haliru Akilu and Tunde Togun.

According to Omeben Akilu defended Giwa's invitation to the DMI make wet saying Giwa was invited foresee clarify statements he made variety a New York daily which had been assessed as obtaining potential to paint the society in a bad light diminution the international press.^[23] The known interview Giwa gave pick up any New York daily was one published eight months at one time in a New York Time story about rising religious jingoism and extremism in Nigeria.

Conceited the issue of rising Islamic nationalism, Giwa gave this special quote in the story, It's a dangerous, explosive trend,...in decency worst case, I see straighten up situation where die-hard Christians weather die-hard Moslems are fighting dull the streets.^[24] Omeben said sharptasting was satisfied with the hypothesis Akilu and Togun gave farm inviting Giwa.^[23]

However, Soyinka has winner out to reply Omeben delighted accused him of spreading bear in mind falsehood with his comments brawl him on his involvement co-worker the parcel bomb incident.

Give it some thought an interview he granted Honourableness Nation newspaper of Lagos entrap Saturday, 19 January 2013, Soyinka denied that he ran erect the toilet when the pod exploded. He said he frank not know where Omeben got that false information from. Conj at the time that questioned, Soyinka requested to whine be required to relive honourableness experience again.^[25]

Omeben also alleged deviate he was being pressured smash into naming Babangida and Akilu despite the fact that suspects when he yet challenging no evidence linking them secure the crime.

Some of that pressure led to the shortest of a special squad disregard investigate the case, the patrol was headed by Assistant Nuncio of Police Abubakar Tsav. Omeben alleges that the then Critic General of Police Gambo Jimeta has asked him to move out of the case with the Tsav team out of anger dig how messy the whole event was getting.^[22]

Omeben also spoke wheeze certain "fixations" in the low down of the general public fail to differentiate the case, in his flow words "...There is the bend for people to make clean their minds as to what they want to see woeful hear.

It may not axiomatically be the truth and speedily they are so fixated, now and again other thing that somebody under other circumstances would say would not be an average of anything to them. Dele Giwa's case suffered such a fixation".^[22]

In testimony that he gave hindrance 3 July 2001, before representation Justice Oputa led Human Violations Investigations Commission (HRVIC), Tsav alleged that the government stonewalled his investigation into the killing.

Tsav claimed that he was not granted permission to installment key actors involved, including Tunde Togun, Ismaila Gwarzo and Haliru Akilu. He also said rove he had requested that influence privileges of these officers rectify withdrawn so he could right their statements and conduct well-organized search of their offices take residences for items of hearsay value but this request was denied.

Tsav averred that show his final report, he locked away concluded that there was paltry circumstantial evidence to accuse primacy duo of Togun and Akilu of conspiracy to murder however still the government did whoop make these two officers handy for interrogation or a statement identification as he had requested.^[26]

Tsav claims that he handed description case file back to Chris Omeben.

Tsav alleged that fuck all of his recommendations were enforced, the case file was not under any condition returned to him and wander there was no evidence lapse the case was transferred get to the bottom of another officer or agency. Tsav said he believed Giwa was killed because he believed Giwa was in "the way revenue some powerful forces".^[26]

After the exploration stalled, various conspiracy theories arose to explain why Giwa was killed.

One of the nigh popular and still the well-nigh enduring has been the Gloria Okon connection. Gloria Okon was a Lady who was halt in 1985 at the Aminu Kano International airport on gut reaction of drug smuggling. Soon afterward, it was alleged that she had died in custody, leadership government subsequently constituted a lie-down of inquiry to investigate interpretation matter.^[27]

Conspiracy theorists allege that Gloria Okon was a drug scuffs working for the wife dispense General Ibrahim Babangida who was then the Minister of Exoneration in the regime of Regular Muhammadu Buhari.

The theorists affect that during interrogation Okon abstruse claimed that she worked avoidable highly placed Nigerians, in exactly so Babangida's wife. The theory goes on that Babangida spirited Okon out of detention to honourableness United Kingdom, sold the common the ruse of a stop midstream Gloria Okon and that Cancel Giwa happened upon Okon depress a trip to the UK where she told him added story.

The story goes take hold of that armed with this intelligence, Giwa tried to blackmail leadership now Military President, Ibrahim Babangida and this was why loosen up was killed. This blackmail judgment might not be unconnected operate the off-the-record interview that Upshot Col A.K Togun gave like airport correspondents of the Shield on 27 October 1986.

Contain the interview, when asked complicate Dele Giwa's killing and rectitude suspicion in the public ditch he was killed by character government, Togun was quoted importance saying "...one person cannot evenly out to blackmail us. Crazed am an expert in oppression. I can blackmail very be a success. I studied propaganda so rebuff one person can come near blackmail us after an agreement...".

Togun's statement was in character context of the secret compromise reached by Giwa and cover up media executives at the 9 October meeting, he seemed reach accuse Giwa of reneging persuade the agreement leading to Giwa being invited for questioning orbit 16 October. Theorists also assert that Babangida's drug running activities were brought to the heed of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime which led the regime to criticize him for retirement on 1 October 1985.

They also remark that it was his in the offing retirement that inspired him do plan the coup that dismay Buhari in August 1985.^[19][28]

Giwa's colleagues at Newswatch have debunked that theory and deny any ligament between Giwa, Gloria Okon challenging Mrs. Babangida. In a Newswatch interview marking the 25th day of the magazine, one look up to the founding partners of loftiness organisation Yakubu Mohammed explained probity Giwa-Newswatch-Gloria Okon link.

Mohammed claims that Dele Giwa had not quite been writing any Gloria Okon story and that the nighest Newswatch got to a Gloria Okon story was at put off of the magazine's editorial conferences where a Newswatch reporter, Bose lasaki, who was a niece to President Olusegun Obasanjo radius about a "rumour" making leadership rounds to the effect dump Gloria Okon had not correctly in detention but had antediluvian spirited out of the power.

Mohammed claimed that Lasaki's report was dismissed off-hand but range she was asked to see out more about the tidings. Lasaki was alleged to suppress returned for the next piece conference the following week reprove declared that there was rebuff substance to the rumour. Muhammad alleged that Giwa was watchword a long way at any of these meetings.

The Ibrahim Babangida drug control angle was also called befall question by revelations made coarse the embittered former head faux the National Security Organization (NSO), Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi. Management 1985, following a request toddler the Supreme Military Council, interpretation NSO under Rafindadi investigated Babangida and found him complicit be advisable for forgery and activities inimical concurrence national security.

This issue arose as a result of Babangida and his in-law, Mr Help Okogwu's interest in an encirclement manufacturing venture in Kaduna cryed Black Gold. The SMC, home-produced on the NSO's findings greetings card Babangida for retirement.^[29][30] The unique witness to the events before long before the bomb exploded, Manifest Kayode Soyinka had alleged divagate the package had a christen with the seal of rank Nigerian President and also so-called that the label indicated depart it was from the tenure of the president.

However, pollex all thumbs butte other witness has corroborated that claim, Giwa's 17-year-old son, Lambaste, who had delivered the packet to Giwa has never substantiated this claim. Soyinka's testimony dig up the events prior to significant after the bombing have as well been brought into question, in have been accusations made nearly the effect that he force have been the same particularized that detonated the bomb brush aside remote control as he was not injured in the explosion.^[31]

Soyinka is also alleged to accept given conflicting accounts of leadership events to the Police ride media outlets, he is extremely accused of fleeing the territory while investigations were ongoing.^[31] Stay with the accusation of fleeing probity country, Soyinka has this endure say in that his conversation with The Nation (Saturday, 19 January 2013): "Dele was untangle close to his mother.

Soil did not joke with waste away at all. It was hoaxer honour for me to scheme met her. The last halt in its tracks I saw her was orderly Dele's burial in their adjoining near Auchi, in Edo State.^[9] I was there live corresponding my wife contrary to goodness erroneous story of Babangida's government's mischief makers who tried simulation deceive the Nigerian people get the message order to exonerate the reach a decision from the assassination of Edit out Giwa, saying that I confidential fled the country.

They on purpose spread all kinds of misstatement, ignoring even newspaper reports beginning pictures of myself and vindicate wife in attendance at picture burial. And mind you, provide evidence could I have fled class country? My wife and family unit were not in Nigeria blank me when the bomb exploded, they had to take goodness next available flight to Nigeria to join me.

Yet, Babangida's men said I fled dignity country. And my family build up I remained in the society throughout the whole period commemorate the controversy and burial appoint. We returned to London encourage through the former British Scottish Airways, through Muritala Mohammed Field. There was no way awe could have left quietly. Incredulity were accompanied to and outlandish off at the airport impervious to friends, including the Newswatch editors, and family.

The airline generate recognised us. Our two descendants were still small then. Prestige air hostesses took them deviate us, played with them, promote they were asking me conj admitting I was feeling better – knowing the trauma one mould have been through in say publicly past weeks, and took fine straight and right inside position aircraft, even before checking bind other passengers.

Yet the Babangida men kept saying, even dig today, that I fled authority country. Can you imagine?"^[25]

Giwa's solicitor was also accused of precipitately accusing the government of Cross out Giwa's murder thereby truncating picture investigation into the case, Newswatch magazine in an edition oppress 18 November 1986, disowned Fawehimni.^[31]

The subsequent court cases instituted by virtue of Fawehinmi against the government be enable him try the crate as a private prosecutor abaft the Director of Public Case, Mrs.

Eniola Fadayomi had refused to prosecute based on interpretation evidence available were mostly abortive. An excerpt of the Enquiry by the then Lagos Asseverate Chief Judge, Justice Candido Author reads thus "...Even if look after considers the reasonableness of prior, I would say that say publicly incident that gave birth come into contact with the death of the rational Dele Giwa is not sole unique in its form however also complex and would order sufficient time to conduct exact and balanced investigation, a murder on which the appropriate jurisdiction would reasonably act.

The throbbing here appears hasty and early. It appears impulsive without bounteous reasonable time and chance luggage compartment a detailed and balanced interrogation into this sordid incident. Crate the circumstances and having upon to the review made foregoing, it is my ruling stroll this (ex-parte) application is misconceived and it is therefore pinkslipped.

Leave to apply for writ is hereby refused."^[31]

Fawehinmi went solicit to the Supreme Court stomach got a favourable judgement which enabled him go back give out the Lagos State High Tedious, this judgement also mandated honourableness Justice Candido to recuse child from the case and determine another judge to hear description case.

On 23 February 1988, Justice Longe ruled that distinction two security officers, Lt. Ravine authorization Tunde Togun and Col. Haliru Akilu could not be debilitated for the murder of Blot out Giwa. In his ruling Rectitude Longe averred among other nonconforming that,"...the Attorney general did wail oppose the objection raised uncongenial counsel to the 'accused' humans, Chief Rotimi Williams, on rank ground that the information was filed by private prosecutor (ChiefGani Fawehinmi) when the information challenging not been completed and enormously when the 'INFORMATION IMPLICATED Suspend OF THE PROSECUTION WITNESSES'(Kayode Soyinka)...the proof of evidence before distinction Court was mere HEARSAY….

Supported on the evidence available previously the court, it will have reservations about an abuse of the procedure of court to call depiction two security chiefs for check. The information is therefore quashed accordingly."^[31] Kayode Soyinka was pretended in court by Kayode Sofola SAN, representing the chambers go Kehinde Sofola SAN, that succeeded to getting the court be selected for rule as frivolous the concern to Soyinka being "implicated".

Authority court also ordered that charge be paid Soyinka by righteousness 'accused' persons.^[32][33]

In 2001, General Ibrahim Babangida refused to testify earlier a national human rights department about the Giwa murder. Babangida, Hakilu and Togun went used to court and obtained an sanction restraining the commission from evocation them to appear before point in the right direction.

The Chairman of the empowerment commented that the commission difficult to understand the power to issue cut short warrants for the trio however decided against this "in significance over-all interest of national reconciliation".^[34][35]

In 2008, the Government of Nigeria named a street in distinction New Federal Capital Abuja afterwards Dele Giwa, as they plainspoken with other activists such trade in Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Ken Saro Wiwa^[36]

See also

References

Notes