The National Assembly has approved the Victims’ Rights Bill, a milestone achievement that brings hope to families of victims of crime across the country.

These victims include Zakari Murtala Muhammed, son of the late Head of State, Murtala Mohammed, who was assassinated 31 years ago, yesterday and this poignant day, the Muhammed family celebrates a significant triumph in their decade-long fight for victims’ rights in Nigeria.

This legislative victory is a testament to the Muhammed family’s unwavering dedication to ensuring that victims’ rights are protected and justice is served.

The bill’s approval sets a precedent for future cases and paves the way for a more compassionate and effective justice system in Nigeria.”

In a statement yesterday to commemorate the anniversary of the death, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Dr. Aisha Oyebode, disclosed that the National Assembly is poised to discuss the Victims’ Rights Bill, a milestone eagerly anticipated by the Foundation.

“We will not relent until this bill is passed. All victims of crimes are entitled to answers,” Oyebode declared, as she voiced her unwavering commitment to ensuring the bill’s passage.

Muhammed-Oyebode emphasised that the bill aims to combat criminal impunity and provide much-needed closure to families of crime victims.

She referenced the numerous unresolved high-profile murders, including those of Dele Giwa, Chief Rewane, and Chief Bola Ige, highlighting the systemic failures in delivering justice, declaring that, “We refuse to quietly continue to bury our dead.