The Nigeria Police Force killed Alex Ogbu on 21 January 2020. He was a trade unionist, journalist and member of the editorial board of the Socialist Workers League. As a trade unionist he worked as national administrative secretary of the National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA). He took up this role after working as the full-time organiser of the SWL in Abuja.
In his capacity as a journalist, he was covering the protest organised by the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) that day. IMN members were demanding the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, who was being illegally held by the state for five years.
The police shot Alex in the head as it dispersed the protest. He died on the spot. The police denied responsibility, claiming that Alex fell on some piece of metal in the commotion. They tried to stop an autopsy from taking place, knowing fully well that they had lied. But Francisca Unekwe Ogbu, the bold wife of Alex, stood her ground and insisted on an autopsy being performed. This showed beyond any reasonable doubt the cause of his death: a bullet in the head.
The Falana and Falana chambers, with their resolute pursuit of justice for Alex Ogbu through the courts, secured a judicial victory on June 21, 2023. Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the FCT High Court ruled that the Nigeria Police Force had a case to answer and ordered the NPF to pay the sum of N50m as compensation, for what it’s worth, to Alex Ogbu’s family.
Two and a half years after, the police have refused to pay the compensation. This is adding salt to an open wound. We demand immediate payment of the said money to Alex’s widow and daughter and an unreserved apology from this repressive arm of the state.
The #JusticeForAlexOgbu Campaign is organising a press conference at 1:00pm today at the National Action Centre, 20 Yalinga Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, to press for justice to be done. Join us, join the struggle for justice for Alex Ogbu and the young dependants he was cruelly taken away from by a bloodthirsty state.
by Baba AYE
