Onifade’s Death: Media Group Urges LASG To Obey Court Order

By Akinwale Kasali

The unserious approach of the  Lagos State Government to obey the Court Order on investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Pelumi Onifade, a Journalist with Gboah TV, has brought to fore the call by the Media Rights Agenda, MRA, on the Lagos State Government to comply with a court directive.

The Media Group has urged the LASG to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Journalist Pelumi Onifade, and prosecute those responsible for his death.

Idowu Adewale, MRA Communications Officer, in a statement said that the late 20-year-old Reporter with Gboah TV was reportedly arrested by the Police while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and later found dead.

Sadly, his corpse was found at Ikorodu Mortuary, raising questions on what led to his death?

On July 19, 2024, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the State Attorney-General to take “all necessary steps” to investigate Onifade’s death and conduct a coroner’s inquest.

In the letter dated August 22, 2024, MRA’s lawyer, Kingsley Kenechukwu, reminded the Lagos Attorney General of the Court’s decision, citing a previous statement by the official indicating willingness to prosecute anyone found culpable.

Stressing the importance of ensuring that justice must be seen to be done, Kenechukwu stated that “MRA is praying that the Government complies with the Court’s directives in the interest of justice,” and providing hope to the common man in the judicial system.

The Group which is also a Human Rights Organization had earlier filed a suit against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General, seeking to declare Onifade’s shooting and arrest as unconstitutional violations of his fundamental rights.

While the Court did not find evidence that the Journalist died in Police custody, it nonetheless directed the State Government to investigate the circumstances of his death, conduct a coroner’s inquest, and identify and prosecute those responsible.

MRA’s press release emphasised that the urgency for the Lagos State Government to comply with the Court’s order and bring closure to this tragic incident, which has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of journalists in Nigeria.