Falana Tasks Media On Unresolved Murder Cases

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the media to take a more active role in pushing for the reopening and resolution of unresolved murder cases across Nigeria.

Falana made the appeal on Saturday during an interactive session in Ikeja, Lagos, themed: “The Role of Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria,” organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

He said journalists must use their platforms to sustain pressure on authorities to ensure justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses, warning that many high-profile cases had been left unattended.

According to him, the media should not allow such cases to fade from public attention.

Falana referenced several incidents, including killings in Lagos allegedly involving police officers, noting that some of the cases had not been revisited despite widespread public concern.

He listed cases he said should be reopened, including the alleged murder of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College in Lagos, the 2018 Offa bank robbery in Kwara State, the killing of Kudurat Abiola, wife of late Chief MKO Abiola, and the murder of six traders at Owode Onirin Market in Lagos in August 2025.

He maintained that sustained media follow-up was essential to ensure accountability, stressing that it forms part of the press’s watchdog responsibility.

Falana also faulted what he described as the underuse of the Freedom of Information Act by media practitioners, saying it could help uncover critical details that promote justice, accountability and good governance.

He advised media organisations against prioritising commercial interests over professional ethics, particularly through the acceptance of wraparound advertisements that could compromise editorial independence.

“The media must not sacrifice truth and objectivity on the altar of commercial gains,” he said.

He further emphasised that the press has a constitutional responsibility to hold government accountable and defend the rights of citizens.

Falana called on journalists to focus more on public interest reporting and resist external pressures capable of weakening their watchdog role.

He also highlighted the importance of regional human rights mechanisms, noting that citizens could pursue justice beyond national institutions when necessary.

The senior lawyer urged the federal government to strengthen justice institutions and ensure timely redress for victims of rights violations.

He further called for closer collaboration between civil society groups and the media in advancing accountability and protecting citizens’ rights, stressing that the fight against human rights abuses requires sustained collective effort from all stakeholders.