The Foundation for Digital Justice (FDJ) strongly condemns the remand of investigative journalist, Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Mr Ojukwu faces a 12-count charge of cyberstalking and criminal defamation which arose from a series of investigative reports he authored between November 2023 and January 2024 concerning contracts and payments linked to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), headed by Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. This remand comes more than two years after Mr Ojukwu was abducted by officers of the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General of Police in May 2024, held incommunicado for days, and detained for a total of 10 days over the reports, in breach of his constitutional rights.
Reporting critical issues of corruption, which exposed a powerful politician, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire who paid millions of naira to a restaurant to build classrooms, is not a crime. It, therefore, follows that the arrest, detention, arraignment and remand of Mr. Ojukwu is patently baseless. Exposing corruption is not a crime and Mr. Ojukwu has no business being in prison for his important investigative reporting.
FDJ regards the continued use of the Cybercrimes Act against journalists, bloggers and outspoken young Nigerians as a direct attack on press freedom. The continued remand and prosecution of Mr Ojukwu represent a concerning abuse of prosecutorial powers and a violation of his right to freedom of expression under the 1999 Constitution. Investigative journalism that scrutinises the expenditure of public funds is not cyberstalking. It is necessary in a democracy. This pattern of intolerance towards public accountability is inconsistent with democratic principles and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
We, therefore, call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN and the Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu, to discontinue the frivolous and trumped-up charges and facilitate Mr. Ojukwu’s unconditional release, without further delay.
FDJ is working closely with Mr. Ojukwu’s legal team to support efforts to secure his immediate release on bail, challenge the propriety of the charges, and defend the principle that journalism is not a crime. FDJ will continue to stand with journalists and citizens whose liberty is threatened for speaking truth to power, online or offline.
The news story was signed by Festus Ogun, Senior Counsel, Foundation for Digital Justice
