Dele Giwa
Encyclopedia
Dele Giwa was a Nigerian journalist, editor and founder of Newswatch magazine, who was killed by a mail bomb in his home on 19 October 1986. The assassination occurred two days after he had been interviewed by State Security Service
(SSS) officials,
He attended local Authority Modern School in Lagere, Ile-lfe.
When his father moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife as a washer man, he gained admission to that school.
Dele Giwa travelled to the USA for his higher education.
Giwa's first wife was Ita Giwa
, who later went on to become a Senator
and an Adviser to President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
Dele Giwa and fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded Newswatch in 1984, and the first edition was distributed on January 28, 1985.
A 1989 description of the magazine said it "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria [and] introduced bold, investigative formats to news reporting in Nigeria".
However, in the first few months of the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida
, who took power in August 1985, the magazine was shamelessly flattering. It printed his face on the cover four times and even criticized "anyone who attempted to make life unpleasant for Babangida".
Later, the paper took a more hostile view of the Babangida regime.
, SSS officials summoned Giwa to their headquarters on 17 October 1986. just 48 hours before he was killed.
The Deputy Director of the SSS, Colonel A.K. Togun, accused Giwa of planning a social revolution and of smuggling arms into the country. The day before the bombing the Director of Military Intelligence, Colonel Halilu Akilu, had telephoned to confirm Giwa's home address. After the bombing Akilu denied any connection.
The government's coat of arms appeared on the outside of the package delivered to his home on 19 October 1986, according to Nigerian press reports.
His second wife, Fumi, and infant daughter were upstairs when the bomb exploded, and were unharmed.
Ita Giwa's only son with Dele, Billy was 16 years old when Dele was bombed. It was Billy who brought the parcel to his father,from the messenger of death, the bike man.
agreed with this, but later he change his mind and said "a special probe would serve no useful purpose".
Graffiti of the time implied a belief that the SSS had been responsible.
Gani Fawehinmi later reported that he had been sent to prison or military detention centers six times when he tried to prosecute the security agents who were involved in the murder.
Although police investigated the murder, no one was ever prosecuted.
In 2001, former Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida
, who ruled the country from 1985 to 1993, refused to testify before a national human rights commission about the Giwa murder.
In 2008 along with other activists such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Ken Saro Wiwa, the Government of Nigeria
named a street in the New Federal Capital Abuja
after Dele Giwa.
State Security Service
State Security Service is the primary domestic intelligence agency of Nigeria. It is primarily responsible for the gathering of intelligence within the country and for the protection of senior government officials, particularly the President and state governors. It is one of three successor...
(SSS) officials,
Background
Dele Giwa was born on 16 March 1947 to a poor family working in the palace of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife.He attended local Authority Modern School in Lagere, Ile-lfe.
When his father moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife as a washer man, he gained admission to that school.
Dele Giwa travelled to the USA for his higher education.
Giwa's first wife was Ita Giwa
Florence Ita Giwa
Florence Ita Giwa was elected Senator for the Cross River South constituency of Cross River State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the All People's Party platform...
, who later went on to become a Senator
Senate of Nigeria
The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator....
and an Adviser to President
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
Olusegun Obasanjo.
Dele Giwa and fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded Newswatch in 1984, and the first edition was distributed on January 28, 1985.
A 1989 description of the magazine said it "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria [and] introduced bold, investigative formats to news reporting in Nigeria".
However, in the first few months of the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
, who took power in August 1985, the magazine was shamelessly flattering. It printed his face on the cover four times and even criticized "anyone who attempted to make life unpleasant for Babangida".
Later, the paper took a more hostile view of the Babangida regime.
Assassination
According to Giwa's lawyer, Gani FawehinmiGani Fawehinmi
Chief Abdul-Ganiyu "Gani" Oyesola Fawehinmi, was a Nigerian author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer, politician and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria .-Early life:Fawehinmi, popularly called Gani, was born on 22 April 1938, into the Fawehinmi...
, SSS officials summoned Giwa to their headquarters on 17 October 1986. just 48 hours before he was killed.
The Deputy Director of the SSS, Colonel A.K. Togun, accused Giwa of planning a social revolution and of smuggling arms into the country. The day before the bombing the Director of Military Intelligence, Colonel Halilu Akilu, had telephoned to confirm Giwa's home address. After the bombing Akilu denied any connection.
The government's coat of arms appeared on the outside of the package delivered to his home on 19 October 1986, according to Nigerian press reports.
His second wife, Fumi, and infant daughter were upstairs when the bomb exploded, and were unharmed.
Ita Giwa's only son with Dele, Billy was 16 years old when Dele was bombed. It was Billy who brought the parcel to his father,from the messenger of death, the bike man.
Aftermath
Afterwards, there were calls for a formal investigation. At first, the Minister of Information Tony MomohTony Momoh
Prince Tony Momoh is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Birth and education:...
agreed with this, but later he change his mind and said "a special probe would serve no useful purpose".
Graffiti of the time implied a belief that the SSS had been responsible.
Gani Fawehinmi later reported that he had been sent to prison or military detention centers six times when he tried to prosecute the security agents who were involved in the murder.
Although police investigated the murder, no one was ever prosecuted.
In 2001, former Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
, who ruled the country from 1985 to 1993, refused to testify before a national human rights commission about the Giwa murder.
In 2008 along with other activists such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Ken Saro Wiwa, the Government of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
named a street in the New Federal Capital Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
after Dele Giwa.