Groups call for release of journalist Daniel Ojukwu held in custody

Media and civil society groups have spoken out against the detention of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. They say that his prosecution over reports about public spending could harm press freedom and discourage journalists from holding leaders accountable.

The groups, which include the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, BudgIT, Media Rights Agenda, and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, said that keeping Ojukwu in jail is an effort to criminalize honest investigative reporting.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, these organizations demanded that Ojukwu be released right away. They also called on the authorities to stop what they see as the misuse of cybercrime and defamation laws against journalists.

This statement came after a Federal High Court ordered on Tuesday that Mr Ojukwu be held until 1 December, when his bail application will be discussed.

Mr Ojukwu has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges against him. He is facing prosecution alongside Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of FIJ, for reports published between November 2023 and January 2024. These reports focused on the activities of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

The police have accused the journalists of cyberstalking and defamation against Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was the senior special assistant on SDGs under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The court turned down a request from Mr Ojukwu’s lawyer, Atanda Kayode, to allow him to keep enjoying the administrative bail granted by the police. The lawyer told the court that his client had followed the bail conditions.

But the judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, refused to consider the bail application, saying it was too early since it had only been filed on Monday.

The prosecution also told the court that Mr Soyombo was missing and asked for a bench warrant for his arrest. The judge rejected this request, saying he had not been brought before the court yet.

The organizations pointed out that the reports in question raised important issues about public spending. They mentioned N147.1 million paid for classroom construction and N47.5 million for another project. They also noted that solar installations completed under these projects stopped working shortly after they were installed.

They argued that public officials who handle public funds must be ready to explain how that money is used. They added that criminal charges should not be used to protect public institutions from scrutiny.

The groups also questioned why Mr Ojukwu is being prosecuted for the same reporting that led to his arrest and detention in May 2024.

The statement warned that this new case could create fear among investigative journalists, whistleblowers, and civil society groups working to expose corruption and misuse of public funds.

It referenced Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution. These sections state that the press has a duty to hold the government accountable and guarantees freedom of expression. They also mentioned protections under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The organizations said that when public officials believe a report is wrong or defamatory, they should seek proper legal action instead of using criminal prosecution to intimidate journalists.

They also urged the government to respond to the issues raised by FIJ’s investigations by releasing relevant public records and allowing independent checks on the projects.

The groups insisted that the government cannot claim to be committed to transparency and fighting corruption while journalists investigating public spending face jail and criminal charges.

The case is set to continue on 1 December for the hearing of Mr Ojukwu’s bail application.