By Bunmi Yekini
Nearly two years after a Federal High Court ordered Nigeria’s government to investigate attacks on journalists and bring perpetrators to justice, the Attorney-General has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to allow the government to file a late appeal against the judgment.
In a motion filed on Dec. 23, 2025, a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, A.B. Mohammed, asked the court to extend the time for the government to appeal a ruling delivered on Feb. 16, 2024, by Justice Inyang Ekwo. The law allows three months to lodge an appeal in civil cases, a deadline the government missed.
Justice Ekwo’s judgment followed a suit brought in October 2021 by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), represented by human rights lawyer Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga. The group argued that the federal government had failed to protect journalists, investigate their killings, and prosecute those responsible, violating the rights to life and freedom of expression.
MRA’s case cited the murders of several journalists over past decades, including Dele Giwa, former editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, killed by a parcel bomb in 1986; Bolade Fasasi, a former treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, shot dead in Ibadan in 1998; Edward Olalekan Ayo-Ojo, found dead in Lagos in 1999; and Omololu Falobi, former features editor of The Punch and founder of Journalists Against AIDS, killed in 2006. The suit also listed Godwin Agbroko and Abayomi Ogundeji of This Day newspaper, killed in 2006 and 2008 respectively, and Edo Sule-Ugbagwu of The Nation, murdered in 2010.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that “journalism and media practice are constitutional professions” grounded in the rights guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, and found that MRA had established its case with credible evidence.
He granted eight declarations sought by the group and ordered the government to take steps to prevent attacks on journalists, investigate and prosecute all perpetrators, ensure victims have access to effective remedies, and build the capacity of law enforcement, security agencies and other officials to protect media workers.
In seeking an extension of time to appeal, the government said it was “desirous to appeal” the judgment but did not explain the 22-month delay, apart from stating that it needed more time.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Kelechi Ohaeri, a litigation officer in the Justice Ministry’s Department of Civil Appeals, said the request was in the interest of justice and necessary to exercise the government’s constitutional right to appeal. He added that a proposed notice of appeal had been prepared and described the grounds as “recondite.”
In a written address, Mohammed said the government had, upon reviewing the judgment, identified errors and wished to exercise its right of appeal under Section 243 of the Constitution.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for the motion.