Falana advocates for re-examining unsolved homicide cases, charges media professionals with responsibility

On Saturday, Mr Femi Falana, a renowned rights campaigner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appealed to the media to escalate its advocacy for the reopening of unresolved murder cases, emphasizing the need for justice and accountability.

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He made this call during an interactive session and press conference titled “The Role of Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria”, which was organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project in Ikeja.

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Falana urged journalists to utilise their platforms to demand justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and other abuses, citing the abandonment of several high-profile cases without accountability, which he believed should not be forgotten.

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He specifically mentioned instances of killings in Lagos allegedly involving policemen, where some murder cases had not been revisited despite public outcry, and listed cases deserving reopening, including the alleged murder of Master Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lagos.

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Other cases he listed for reopening included the Offa bank robbery of 2018 in Kwara, the murder of Kudurat Abiola, the wife of Chief MKO Abiola, and the murder of six traders at Owode Onirin Market in Lagos State in August 2025.

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Falana emphasized that the media should follow up on rights violation cases until resolved, as part of its watchdog function, to ensure that justice is served and accountability is maintained.

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He noted that the media had not adequately invoked the Freedom of Information Act to seek and obtain information that would promote accountability, justice, and good governance, which he believed was essential for a functioning democracy.

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Falana also expressed his concern about media managers sacrificing professionalism for commercial gains through wraparound advertisements, which he believed undermined public trust and compromised the integrity of the media.

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He stated that the media must not sacrifice truth and objectivity on the altar of commercial gains, and instead, prioritize public interest reporting and resist pressure that could weaken their watchdog role.

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Falana highlighted the importance of regional human rights mechanisms, saying that Nigerians could seek justice beyond national borders, and called on the federal government to strengthen institutions responsible for justice delivery.

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He urged the federal government to ensure that victims of rights violations would receive justice in time, and called for greater collaboration between civil society organisations and the media to promote accountability and protect citizens’ rights.

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Falana reiterated that the fight against human rights violations required sustained efforts from all stakeholders, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights campaigners, to achieve a just and equitable society.