Franklyne Ogbunwezeh asks IBB to address Dele Giwa’s murder in his autobiography

Franklyne Ogbunwezeh, a Nigerian lawyer based in Germany, has asked Ibrahim Babangida, a former military head of state, to explain his alleged role in Dele Giwa’s murder.

Babangida, popularly known as IBB, was military head of state from 1985 to 1993 before he stepped aside for Ernest Shonekan, who took over as interim president of the country.

Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja residence on October 19, 1986.

Speaking during an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica on Sunday, Ogbunwezeh asked IBB to address pressing questions at his forthcoming book launch, and not “whitewash his role in Nigeria’s history”.

Babangida will launch his autobiography titled ‘A Journey In Service,’ on February 20, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo chairing the event and President Bola Tinubu attending as the special guest of honour.

“I expect him to answer some questions in his book. Would he answer who killed Dele Giwa? He should tell us what he knew about Dele Giwa’s death,” Ogbunwezeh said.

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a veritable citizen of our country was killed with a letter bomb. Only governments are capable of that.

“He should tell us what his intelligence agencies knew about Dele Giwa’s death and how it was connected to Gloria Okon. What killed Gloria Okon — the drug trafficker that was arrested in Mallam Aminu Kanu International Airport and fingered a lot of people in his government?

“We learnt that Dele Giwa was on top of that story. The Secret Service arrested and interrogated him. He was left to go and a few days later a parcel bomb was sent to his home and they killed him.

“So, IBB should tell Nigerians what happened. The buck stops at his table while he was president.”

IBB is remembered for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election. It is widely acknowledged that Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was tipped to win the poll until Babangida nullified the process.

Seven years ago, IBB expressed doubts about writing an autobiography, saying he was uncertain if Nigerians would “want to read about a dictator”.

He added that the public has a wrong impression of him, citing his role in the June 12 crisis, and some of the controversial policies he unfurled between 1985 to 1993 as head of a junta.