₦airaland Forum

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has denied involvement in the death of veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa.

Giwa, a vocal critic of Babangida’s military government, was assassinated via a parcel bomb in his home in Ikeja, Lagos State on October 19, 1986.

Two days before the incident, a senior official of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, had accused Giwa of illegally importing and stockpiling arms and ammunition to stage a socialist revolution in Nigeria.

Alarmed at the charge, Giwa quickly briefed his lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi.

The following day, a security chief, Colonel Halilu Akilu, called to reassure Giwa that the accusation had resulted from a misunderstanding, that the matter had been cleared, and that Giwa should think nothing of it.

A few hours later, the emissary arrived. Giwas’s son, Billy, collected the parcel and handed it to his father, who was seated at the dining table in the company of Kayode Soyinka, the London correspondent of Newswatch, who was visiting from the UK. The envelope bore the seal of the Presidency and was marked “To be opened by addressee only.”

However, dismissing the longtime allegation that he was involved in Giwa’s death, Babangida, in his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” presented in Abuja on Thursday, noted that he expected that one day, the truth would be uncovered.

He said, “The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday.


“It was an attitude of ‘we versus the government’ that has remained today. It is a situation in which the government is adjudged guilty even before the evidence in a case is adduced.

“When the Obasanjo civilian administration reopened the Giwa case at the Oputa Panel on Human and Civil Rights, I expected that the police and lawyers would come forward with new evidence as to their findings on the Giwa murder over the years.

“Nothing of such happened. The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us. More often than not, mysterious crimes are solved long after their commission.”

The public presentation of the autobiography also witnessed the launch of Babangida’s presidential library.

It was attended by President Bola Tinubu, who led former presidents, former military leaders, and captains of industry, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Also in attendance were former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Yemi Osinbajo, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi and the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.


The keynote speaker was Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of Ghana and his counterpart, the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, also graced the occasion.

Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, industrialists, technocrats and traditional rulers were also in attendance.

Source: https://punchng.com/Babangida-denies-involvement-in-dele-giwas-death

Lol 😂 IBB THE MARADONA.

adenigga:
Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has denied involvement in the death of veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa.

Giwa, a vocal critic of Babangida’s military government, was assassinated via a parcel bomb in his home in Ikeja, Lagos State on October 19, 1986.

Two days before the incident, a senior official of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, had accused Giwa of illegally importing and stockpiling arms and ammunition to stage a socialist revolution in Nigeria.

Alarmed at the charge, Giwa quickly briefed his lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi.

The following day, a security chief, Colonel Halilu Akilu, called to reassure Giwa that the accusation had resulted from a misunderstanding, that the matter had been cleared, and that Giwa should think nothing of it.

A few hours later, the emissary arrived. Giwas’s son, Billy, collected the parcel and handed it to his father, who was seated at the dining table in the company of Kayode Soyinka, the London correspondent of Newswatch, who was visiting from the UK. The envelope bore the seal of the Presidency and was marked “To be opened by addressee only.”

However, dismissing the longtime allegation that he was involved in Giwa’s death, Babangida, in his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” presented in Abuja on Thursday, noted that he expected that one day, the truth would be uncovered.

He said, “The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday.


“It was an attitude of ‘we versus the government’ that has remained today. It is a situation in which the government is adjudged guilty even before the evidence in a case is adduced.

“When the Obasanjo civilian administration reopened the Giwa case at the Oputa Panel on Human and Civil Rights, I expected that the police and lawyers would come forward with new evidence as to their findings on the Giwa murder over the years.

“Nothing of such happened. The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us. More often than not, mysterious crimes are solved long after their commission.”

The public presentation of the autobiography also witnessed the launch of Babangida’s presidential library.

It was attended by President Bola Tinubu, who led former presidents, former military leaders, and captains of industry, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Also in attendance were former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Yemi Osinbajo, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi and the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.


The keynote speaker was Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of Ghana and his counterpart, the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, also graced the occasion.

Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, industrialists, technocrats and traditional rulers were also in attendance.

Source: https://punchng.com/Babangida-denies-involvement-in-dele-giwas-death

Who believes this bastard

If this baba wan kpai, make he exit quietly. We don’t care about those evil people that has held this country captive

Maradona still wan dribble us for old age.

I thought they said old people don't lie...

Maradona is denying everything oooo.

Then who killed him?

The mainstream media and blogs like this go force some people believe CAPRISON

I guess he believes they’d hold talks at the other side. He did it or knows the culprit and doesn’t think Nigerians deserve the knowledge. I will urinate on his grave if I get the chance.

It's well

Autobiography of lies....

Nigeria is a comedy channel.


😂😂😂😂

You were expecting him to accept?

Wetin the old vegetable for talk before?

"Na who kill Dele Giwa, na BaBa ,... If u add Gida, na u sabi"

Confession time ,remember no sinner liar will enter heaven, make ur Confession well ooh, seems baba time is up

Did he even confess to cancelling the June 12 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola, he blamed it on dead Sani Abacha. We don't expect him to confess to Giwa's murder, but we know he did it just like June 12.

who kill dele giwa na baba.....in fela voice

Jestin:
If this baba wan kpai, make he exit quietly. We don’t care about those evil people that has held this country captive

lol...well in a way, the noise is not needed but again, secondly, E better make the man dey talk oooo!.....u never can tell when he would say something very catchy and expository!!.......So just allow him exercise his freedom

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/Babangida-denies-involvement-in-dele-giwas-death

Babangida's name must be changed to
SAINT IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

But come to think of it, if indeed the parcel was from presidency, it would not have revealed the identity of the real killer in such an obvious manner

It's well, only God can judge the person who used teeth to divide meat

Kai Dele giwas death. How time flies, just like yesterday but 39 years ago.
May his soul continue to rest in peace.

The evil this man did to this country is obviously hunting him.
His death is obviously near.
He should just die quietly and stop opening wounds that are trying to heal

Hmmm

Wow

This man should be in jail in a sane country... But in our crime country he's a celebrity

A state sponsored murder.

Spare us the lies.

ONLY GOD KNOWS.

You cant trust all these muslems..!!!
Na cow dem be.

Who killed Giwa, na Baban,
If you put Gida, na you sabi...

I remember as a kid when dele giwa was killed, it made headlines and all over the news.

Only God knows all.