(IJC/IFEX) – The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos state, Lanre Arogundade, has been charged with murder before an Ibadan Chief Magistrate’s Court. The prosecutor, Sunday Egunremi, told the court that Arogundade had conspired with others now at large to murder female journalist Bolade Fasasi. **Updates IFEX alerts of 5 May, 3 May, […]
(IJC/IFEX) – The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos state,
Lanre Arogundade, has been charged with murder before an Ibadan Chief
Magistrate’s Court. The prosecutor, Sunday Egunremi, told the court that
Arogundade had conspired with others now at large to murder female
journalist Bolade Fasasi.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 5 May, 3 May, 30 April, 28 April 20 April, 13 April
and 17 February 1999**
He was said to have committed the offence on 31 March 1999 at about 10:20
p.m. (local time) at No. 31, Awolowo Avenue, Old Bodija Ibadan. He was also
alleged to have sent persons believed to be hired assassins to shoot and
kill Fasasi.
Arogundade pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy while his plea to
the murder charge was not taken. The Chief Magistrate, O.O. Olatunji,
ordered the accused to be remanded in police custody until 21 May, after
refusing the bail application by his counsel, Adeyinka Olumide.
The prosecutor told the court that the investigation of the case was still
on, but that no other arrest had been made. Meanwhile, Arogundade’s
attorneys have concluded plans to file a suit on his behalf at an Ibadan
High court on 5 May.
Arogundade’s decision to go to court climaxed a week of discussions and
other activities by journalists, activists, lawyers and other groups in
Nigeria and beyond.
The NUJ had earlier criticised Arogundade’s arrest and detention, and
petitioned the Oyo State Military Administrator, Police Commissioner Edore
Amen Oyakhire, demanding the immediate release of its leader and a full
inquiry into the death of Bolade Fasasi.
The national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams
Oshiomole, said his organisation would give the necessary support to secure
Arogundade’s release.
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka spoke while visiting Arogundade in his detention
camp.
He described Arogundade’s detention beyound twenty-four hours without trial
as “wrong, unconstitutional and unacceptable.” He said all efforts must be
made to get to the root of Fasasi’s murder and to clear Arogundade’s name of
the stigma the police were trying to hang on it.
In a letter, renowned lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi said he believed
“completely” and ferverantly” in Arogundade’s innocence. “You cannot kill
and you did not have the disposition and temperament to hurt anybody. This
is a classic frame-up of the century,” he said.
In a letter signed by its chairman, Beko Ransome-Kuti, the Campaign for
Democracy (CD) said that although it acknowledged the right of the police to
investigate crimes, it was constrained “to state that such investigation
should be carried out in good faith, without any political undertones or
motives.” Arguing that citizens should not be detained for long periods
without being charged in court, it said “we therefore demand his immediate
release, or in the alternative, he should be charged to court.”
