DELE GIWA’S ASSASSINATION: YAKUBU MOHAMMED SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of Newswatch magazine, has set the record straight on the assassination of Dele Giwa, the magazine’s founding editor-in-chief. In an exclusive interview, Mohammed debunked conspiracy theories surrounding Giwa’s death, which occurred on October 19, 1986, via a parcel bomb at his Lagos residence.

Mohammed’s revelation comes 39 years after Giwa’s gruesome murder, which sparked widespread speculation about the involvement of then-military president, General Ibrahim Babangida. However, Mohammed insists that Giwa’s assassination has nothing to do with Newswatch or its staff.

“My conjecture all along is that Dele’s assassination has nothing to do with Newswatch,” Mohammed said. He also expressed frustration over accusations that the surviving Newswatch trio, including himself, Ray Ekpu, and Dan Agbese, refused to indict Babangida due to their friendship with him.

“If you are talking about friendship with Babangida and his people, Dele was closer to them,” Mohammed said. “They said he was even the one writing speeches for Babangida, doing this and that for Babangida. So, who was closer?”

Mohammed also recounted a particular incident involving Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who allegedly pressured Billy, Giwa’s son, to implicate Babangida in his father’s assassination. “Billy, state that this parcel is from Babangida,” Fawehinmi reportedly told the boy, who refused to comply.

The interview sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding Giwa’s death and the subsequent investigation. Mohammed’s testimony provides a fresh perspective on the events that unfolded, and his forthrightness has sparked a renewed discussion about the assassination.

“I think you better ask other questions,” Mohammed pleaded, becoming emotional during the interview. “There are some things I don’t want to say because Dele is dead.” Despite his emotions, Mohammed remained resolute in his conviction that Giwa’s assassination was not related to Newswatch or its staff.