The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Federal Government to re-open the investigation and prosecution of those that were involved in the murder of the founder of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa in 1986.
The court, in the judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, equally ordered the restart of the investigation into unresolved cases of extra-judicial killing of other journalists in the country.
It specifically directed the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to kickstart the investigative process.
According to the court, the AGF, being the Chief Law Officer, is under obligation to prosecute those that were linked to the death of both Dele Giwa and other media practitioners in the country.
It will be recalled that Dele Giwa died from a letter bomb that was delivered to his Lagos office on October 19, 1986.
The order of the court on Friday followed a suit that was brought before it by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, MRA.
The organization had approached the court for the enforcement of fundamental rights of media practitioners to safety as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the African Charters on Human & Peoples Rights.
The AGF was cited as the sole defendant in the matter.
In his judgement, Justice Ekwo directed FG to ensure adequate protection and safety of the lives of journalists in the country, in line with provisions of sections 33, and 39 of the Constitution and Articles 4 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.