By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

 As friends and colleagues commemorate the 29th anniversary of Dele Giwa’s assassination via letter bomb, Nigerian journalists had been urged to emulate his gallantry, fearless and dauntless courage.
  ”reject and shun bad journalistic ethics and payment to compromise accurate and truthful reporting, ….uphold what he represented, stood for  and died for” Prof. Mathew Atobe counseled.
Atobe, a Senior Partner, Beacon Group, Boston USA  was speaking Monday at an event organized by Media Law Centre to commemorate the 29th anniversary  of Dele Giwa’s assassination via letter bomb in Lagos.
Atobe  admonished those who knew the late journalist and those who never did  to uphold his legacy:
“This is what we are remembering him for today. Whereever Dele Giwa is today, he wants us to continue with this struggle of strengthening   investigative journalism in Nigeria”
He added that the story of  democracy in Nigeria cannot be complete without the contributions of Dele Giwa, maintaining that the late journalist  contributed in putting Nigeria on the map of democratic nations.
While  rounding up, he admonished all stakeholders both at the Federal and State level plus media practitioners   to join hands  to honor Dele Giwa by establishing Dele Giwa Journalism  Fund to support what he fought for.
Speaking at the event,  the Director, Media Law Center, MLC,  Richard Akinnola, who is also presented his two new books reviewed  during the event,  cautioned journalists against filing a story without authenticating its source to avoid defamation.  
He noted that the aim of one of the books:  “Law of Defamation Made Simple” was to enable journalist acquaint themselves with the law of defamation and its consequences.
 “In as much as the press has the latitude to practice, such practice is also controlled by law. A neighbor too has the right to call his noisome co-tenant to order or sue him for constituting nuisance.” He said.
Talking about the second  book, “Trial  By The Media: Saraki’s Case In Perspective”, he remarked that it  is about the media constituting itself as a court  to try people accused of certain breaches  of the law. He gave as an example, the airing by  African Independent Television, AIT of  a sponsored documentary against the person of former Rivers  State governor, Rotimi Amaechi wherein he was accused, tried and convicted of corruption by the sponsors.
Akinnola, also advised journalists to upgrade themselves on law, media and medicine to enable them stand their ground when their rights are being trampled upon.
In his conclusion, he reiterated the need for proper mentoring and retraining in the newsroom to prepare journalists for investigative journalism.  
The  event, Capacity Building Seminar/ Media Perspective and unveiling of books, was organized by  the MLC as part of its contribution in keeping  alive the memory of  Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of NEWSWATCH  magazine  whose assassination 29 years ago in his Ikeja, Lagos home has never been solved by the police or the security agencies