Three decades after the tragic killing of Zackari Murtala Muhammed, the family of the late Head of State is leading a renewed fight for justice, marking a significant step forward in the quest for victims’ rights across Nigeria.
On the 31st anniversary of the assassination, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), spearheaded by Dr. Aisha Oyebode, has secured critical support from the National Assembly for the Victims’ Rights Bill, a legislative milestone that could reshape the nation’s approach to criminal justice.
Zackari Murtala Muhammed was fatally shot on August 13, 1993, a crime that remains unresolved despite the identification of suspects.
The prolonged lack of justice in his case has been emblematic of the systemic failures that have plagued Nigeria’s judicial system, with many high-profile murders similarly left in limbo.
In a poignant statement commemorating her brother’s death, Dr. Oyebode, CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, emphasized the urgency of the Victims’ Rights Bill, which seeks to address the glaring gaps in the country’s legal framework regarding the protection of crime victims.
“We will not relent until this bill is passed. All victims of crimes are entitled to answers,” Oyebode asserted, reaffirming her commitment to ensuring that the legislation becomes law.
The Victims’ Rights Bill 2024, set to be deliberated by the House of Representatives upon their return from recess in September, represents a comprehensive effort to codify the rights of victims within the justice system.
The proposed law would mandate courts to uphold victims’ rights, enforce compliance, and provide a legal foundation for victims to actively participate in the prosecution of crimes.
Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., who leads the 26-member legislative team championing the bill, highlighted the urgent need to rectify the current legal imbalance that often prioritises the rights of suspects over those of victims.
“Current deficiencies in extant laws create an imbalance where the rights of suspected perpetrators can overshadow those of the victims.
This imbalance deepens the suffering of victims and fosters a culture of impunity,” Rotimi stated.
The bill’s advancement in the National Assembly is seen as a crucial step towards ending this culture of impunity, which has allowed perpetrators of heinous crimes, including the killings of Dele Giwa, Chief Rewane, and Chief Bola Ige, to escape accountability.
For Oyebode and the MMF, the passage of this bill is not just about securing justice for past victims but also about preventing future tragedies by ensuring that all crime victims receive the legal protections they deserve.
“We refuse to quietly continue to bury our dead. There is an urgent need for legislative action and robust victim protection laws,” Oyebode declared, urging lawmakers to move swiftly in passing the bill.
The MMF’s advocacy for the Victims’ Rights Bill underscores a broader demand for justice reform in Nigeria, aimed at restoring faith in the legal system and ensuring that victims of violent crimes are no longer marginalised in the pursuit of justice.
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