Family, female attorneys demand thorough probe of murder of Abuja lawyer

By Justina Auta

The family of slain lawyer, Mediatrix Chigbo, and the Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA) have called for a thorough investigation into her murder.

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had earlier announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with the death of the female lawyer, allegedly in the hands of one-hance robbers in Abuja.

But speaking a Night of Tribute organised in Chigbo’s honour by GAFA on Friday in Abuja, the deceased’s younger sister, Ms Maureen Chigbo, described her death as tragic and devastating, urging authorities to ensure justice is served.

Maureen, a former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, said she interviewed the suspects while seeking justice as an investigative journalist.

She revealed discrepancies between suspects’ statements and actual facts, highlighting contradictions that must be resolved during the investigation.

“We are not dealing with suppositions. A homicide investigation must examine all loopholes to establish the truth.

“Why insist on this? My sister fought for justice, advocated for the poor, and we will not let her struggle be in vain.

“We want justice for her and for humanity, so the dead can rest and the living live in peace,” Maureen Chigbo said.

Maureen explained that the deceased attended evening Mass and spoke to her sister before a distress call, followed by threats from unidentified persons.

She urged legal professionals and stakeholders to support a thorough investigation and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Join us to uncover who kidnapped and murdered my sister. This is homicide. The investigation cannot be sloppy or superficial.

“She dedicated her life to the poor and pro bono cases. Justice is the standard, and justice is what she must receive,” she said.

Mrs Chinelo Iriele, GAFA International President, described Chigbo as a devoted colleague and former International Secretary of the association.

Iriele urged authorities to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute the perpetrators fully, saying accountability is essential to deter future crimes.

“We demand perpetrators be exposed and face full consequences. Accountability is necessary to curb recurring violence in our society,” she added.

Mrs Chigozie Eruchalu, Principal Partner at Goziem Chambers, called the death “a chilling reminder of the risks citizens face daily.”

Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, Director-General of the Institute of Medical and Health Law, said Chigbo, inducted in 2022, deserves justice fully, transparently, and without delay.

Legal practitioners, media professionals, and notable personalities attended the tribute to honour the late lawyer.

Meanwhile, The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement last Sunday said the suspects arrested over the death of the female lawyer were notorious armed robbery suspects involved in “one-chance” criminal operations and the gruesome murder of Chigbo.

According to her, the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey.

He said the police operatives acting on reconstructive digital intelligence, tracked the victim’s mobile phone and conducted follow up operations at Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata communities within Kubwa Area of the FCT.

“These intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of the three suspects; two of the suspects are biological brothers,” she said.

Adeh said further investigations revealed that on Jan. 5, at about 5:50 pm, Chigbo unknowingly boarded their black Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway, unaware that the occupants were criminals.

“Upon entry into the vehicle, the suspects wound up the tinted windows and threatened the victim with weapons in an attempt to force her to pay ransom for her own release.

“When she allegedly refused to cooperate, she was physically assaulted and pushed out of the moving vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway, resulting in her death,” she said.

She said the suspects further admitted to dispossessing the victim of her Android mobile phone and later sold it at Dei-Dei for the sum of N120,000.

Adeh said the money realised from the sale was shared among the three suspects and one other, currently at large.

She said the exhibits recovered from the suspects were five scissors, two sharp dagger knives, two knives, and one long chain used for restraining victims and one plier.

“These items are believed to have been used in the commission of their criminal activities.

Adeh added that investigation is ongoing, and intensive efforts are in top gear to apprehend the remaining suspect, who is currently at large, and to uncover any additional criminal networks linked to the syndicate.

NAN