Family, Female Lawyers Demand Comprehensive Investigation Into Murder of Abuja-Based Lawyer, Mediatrix Chigbo

The family of slain Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barrister Mediatrix Chigbo, in collaboration with the Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA), has renewed calls for a thorough, transparent, and uncompromising investigation into her gruesome murder. They insist that only full justice will honour her life, her profession, and her long-standing commitment to defending the vulnerable in society.

The call followed an earlier announcement by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirming the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to the killing. According to police accounts, the suspects are believed to be members of a notorious “one-chance” armed robbery gang operating within Abuja. However, despite these arrests, the victim’s family and professional colleagues maintain that the investigation must go beyond preliminary conclusions to uncover the full truth surrounding her death.

Speaking emotionally at a Night of Tribute organised in Abuja by GAFA in honour of the late lawyer, her younger sister, Ms Maureen Chigbo, described the incident as devastating and deeply painful for the family. She stressed that while arrests had been made, there were still unresolved questions that demanded careful scrutiny by investigators.

Maureen Chigbo, a former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and an investigative journalist, disclosed that she personally interviewed the arrested suspects while seeking clarity and justice for her sister. According to her, the suspects’ accounts were riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions that could not be ignored.

“This is not about assumptions or media narratives. A homicide investigation must critically examine all loopholes and inconsistencies to establish the truth,” she said. “My sister dedicated her life to justice and stood firmly for the poor and oppressed. We will not allow her struggle to be in vain. Justice for her is justice for humanity.”

She further revealed that the late Mediatrix Chigbo had attended evening Mass on the day she was killed and had spoken with family members shortly before placing a distress call. Disturbingly, that call was reportedly followed by threats from unidentified persons, a detail the family believes should form a key part of the investigation.

Maureen appealed to legal practitioners, civil society organisations, the media, and concerned Nigerians to support the demand for a comprehensive probe. She emphasized that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, serving as a deterrent to similar crimes.

“This is homicide. The investigation must not be sloppy or superficial. Justice is the minimum standard, and justice is what she deserves,” she added.

The International President of GAFA, Mrs Chinelo Iriele, described the late Chigbo as a disciplined and committed professional who once served as the association’s International Secretary. She called on security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute everyone connected to the crime.

“We demand accountability. The perpetrators must be exposed and made to face the full weight of the law if we are to curb the recurring violence threatening professionals and ordinary citizens alike,” Iriele said.

Other speakers at the event echoed similar sentiments. Mrs Chigozie Eruchalu, Principal Partner at Goziem Chambers, described the killing as a chilling reminder of the daily dangers Nigerians face, while Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, Director-General of the Institute of Medical and Health Law, said Chigbo deserved justice that is transparent, timely, and complete.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, reaffirmed that the suspects were arrested following intelligence-led operations by the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey. She explained that digital intelligence tracking of the victim’s mobile phone led officers to arrests in Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata communities within the Kubwa axis of Abuja.

According to police findings, Chigbo unknowingly boarded a black Volkswagen Golf along the Kubwa Expressway, where she was allegedly attacked, assaulted, and pushed out of a moving vehicle after resisting ransom demands. Recovered items included weapons and restraints believed to have been used in multiple criminal operations.

Police say investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to apprehend an accomplice still at large and dismantle the entire criminal network.