By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Federal Government has applied to the Court of Appeal in Abuja for permission to appeal a Federal High Court judgment ordering it to investigate, prosecute, and prevent attacks on journalists in Nigeria.The application comes nearly two years after Justice Inyang Ekwo, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered the judgment on February 16, 2024, directing the government to take concrete steps to protect journalists and end impunity for crimes against media practitioners.
In a motion on notice filed on December 23, 2025, the Attorney-General of the Federation, through counsel A.B. Mohammed of the Federal Ministry of Justice, is seeking an extension of time to appeal the judgment, having missed the statutory three-month deadline for filing appeals in civil matters.According to Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004 (as amended), a notice of appeal against a final decision of a court must be filed within three months. The government’s request was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, January 19, 2026, by Media Rights Agenda (MRA).
The judgment followed a suit filed on October 26, 2021, by Media Rights Agenda, through human rights lawyer Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga. The organisation alleged persistent violations of journalists’ rights to life and freedom of expression, citing the failure of the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute killings of journalists over several decades.In the suit, MRA highlighted the murders of several journalists, including Newswatch Editor-in-Chief Dele Giwa, killed by a parcel bomb in Lagos on October 19, 1986, and Bolade Fasasi, a member of the National Association of Women Journalists, who was shot dead in Ibadan on March 31, 1998.
Others cited included Edward Olalekan Ayo-Ojo, found dead in Lagos on June 1, 1999; Omololu Falobi, former features editor of The Punch, murdered in Lagos on October 5, 2006; Godwin Agbroko, Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay, killed on December 22, 2006; Abayomi Ogundeji of *ThisDay*, shot dead on August 17, 2008; and Edo Sule-Ugbagwu, judicial correspondent of *The Nation*, murdered in his Lagos home on April 24, 2010.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that journalism is a constitutionally protected profession anchored on Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution. He ruled that MRA had established its case with credible evidence and granted all eight reliefs sought. The court ordered the Federal Government to investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators of attacks against journalists, prevent future violations, and ensure victims have access to effective remedies. It also directed the government to build the capacity of law enforcement, security agencies, and other stakeholders on standards for journalists’ safety.In its application, however, the Federal Government said it was “desirous to appeal” the judgment but did not provide reasons for the 22-month delay, aside from stating the need for more time.
An affidavit sworn by Kelechi Ohaeri, a litigation officer at the Ministry of Justice, argued that granting the extension was in the interest of justice and necessary to exercise the government’s constitutional right of appeal. The government claimed the proposed grounds of appeal were complex and substantial.No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the application at the Court of Appeal.
