1 Frameworks of Investigative Journalism By Ojomo W. Olusegun Abstract This chapter examines the frameworks of investigative journalism in Nigeria. It discusses peculiar constraints under which Nigerian journalists work, and the effects of these constraints on their output. While it argues that the Nigerian journalist has contributed to the socio-economic and political development of Nigerian since pre-independence period till date, the chapter advocates the removal of certain systemic limitations to enable investigative journalists optimise their potentials for national gain. Introduction The duty of the press to a society is not a novel concept in communication studies. As early as 1948, Harold Lasswell had assigned the functions of surveillance of the environment, correlation of parts of the environment and transmission of socio-cultural heritage to the press. What indeed has been a subject of polemics are: the journalist, his working environment and how well he meets public expectations on his duties. John Merrill also contributed to the discourse on the duty of the journalist. In his view, Merrill suggested the three roads to press responsibility namely: that which is legally defined or determined by government, that which is professionally defined or determined by the press itself and that which is pluralistically defined or determined by individual journalists themselves. The United Nations Declaration, the Nigerian constitution, as well as notable media theorists lend their voices on the press and its duty to the public. Therefore, the press could be said to be acting within the confines of reasonable social norms in ensuring that the public is not just informed, but well informed. The Nigerian Investigative Journalist The Nigerian journalist has come a long way in Nigeria’s socio-political history. Sincere analysts of Nigeria’s political development will agree that the sovereignty obtained in 1960 was not won through the power of the gun but through the power of the pen of the Nigerian press. The impact of the writings of men like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli, and Anthony Enahoro, have inspired several contemporary journalists like the late Dele Giwa, Dele Omotunde, etc. If we take investigative journalism to be radically different from dissenting journalism or exposure journalism, then it would be appropriate to assert that after the demise of Dele Giwa, it has been difficult to point at any outstanding investigative journalist, thus giving the impression that Nigerian journalists buried the torch of investigative journalism with Dele Giwa. The incident of Dele Giwa’s death may have sent shivers down the spines of Nigerian Journalists causing them to scamper for safety.