Three years after, court orders police to pay N50 million to family of slain journalist
A Nigerian court has ordered the payment of N50 million to the family of a slain journalist, Comrade Alex Ugbu, by the Nigerian Police three years after his murder.
Ogbu, a journalist, trade unionist and human rights activist was felled by a police bullet on January 21, 2020, at Berger Roundabout, Wuse, Abuja.
The incident occurred during a brutal police crackdown on protesters calling for the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of a Shi’ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
Ogbu was doing his job as a journalist, reporting on the demonstration when he was gunned down.
Initially, the police claimed he died because he fell and hit his head, but it was later revealed that he was shot in the head by a senior police officer.
The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blood loss resulting from gunshot injuries. But the police authorities had refused to carry out the coroner’s inquest in an attempt to cover for the police officer who killed Ugbu.
“Comrade 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 absolutely served.”
“We appreciate Comrade 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,” it added.
