Human rights groups, women’s rights advocates, and the family of Deborah Okwori have issued a unified call for public scrutiny and transparency as the trial surrounding Okwori’s violent death reopens at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja.
The hearing, presided over by Justice Ogalla, comes amid reports that the accused, Lintex Ogale, has formally requested a plea bargain agreement.
In a joint public appeal alongside the DOHS Cares Foundation, representatives and family members raised concerns over the proposed terms of the bargain, urging the legal system and the public to ensure the seriousness of the loss of life is reflected in the proceedings.
Advocates are raising critical questions regarding the proposed court outcome, specifically demanding clarity on what offence is being proposed under the plea bargain, what terms and sentence are contemplated, and whether the victim’s family has been properly consulted throughout the process. They emphasise the need to determine whether the final resolution will deliver true accountability or reduce the killing of women to a minor compromise.
“Deborah deserves more than to become another forgotten statistic,” the DOHS Cares Foundation stated in a call to action, demanding that the judicial process remain visible, transparent, and accountable so that the family can be heard and justice can be seen to be done.
Civil society organisations, legal practitioners, activists, and media personnel are expected to gather at the High Court in Ikeja to monitor the proceedings, cover the trial, and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family under the national banner to end femicide.
Court Details:
- Venue: High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja (Justice Ogalla’s Court)
- Presiding Judge: Hon. Justice Ogalla
- Defendant: Lintex Ogale
