Following protests by some civil society organizations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu, who was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police, has regained his freedom.
Ojukwu regained freedom on Friday after 10 days in police captivity.
FIJ disclosed this on Friday on its website.
However, the Nigeria Police Force has vowed to arraign the Foundation for Investigative Journalism’s reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was earlier detained for 10 days, before the Federal High Court.
Ojukwu was abducted by the police in Lagos on May 1 and was released on Friday following a protest held at the Force Headquarters on Thursday.
However, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Friday that Ojukwu’s arrest and investigation by the police were justifiable under the law.
He said the reporter has a case to answer.
The statement was titled, “FIJ’S Case: Ojukwu’s arrest, investigation justifiable under the law – FPRO; He has a case to answer.”
It read, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby addresses recent developments regarding the arrest and investigation of Mr Daniel Ojukwu, reiterating that, contrary to speculative reports, Mr. Ojukwu’s investigation is in strict compliance with legal protocols and procedures.
“Mr. Ojukwu was lawfully apprehended and detained pursuant to a valid remand warrant issued by a competent court of justice on May 2, 2024. His initial detention in Lagos and subsequent transfer to Abuja by the FCID-National Cybercrime Centre align with standard investigative procedures undertaken by police.”
Adejobi added that Ojukwu’s detention was linked to allegations of violating provisions of the Cybercrime Act and other extant laws pertaining to cyber related crimes.
He added, “These allegations stem from a report concerning financial transactions and contract execution, upon which he was petitioned to the Nigeria Police for investigations.
“With our preliminary forensic investigation and recovery of some contents generated by the suspect, Mr. Ojukwu has a case to answer and, as such, will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigations.”
He noted that the police did not deny Ojukwu bail, adding that his release was predicated on him meeting the conditions set for the bail.
He further noted that the journalist’s freedom from police detention is pending the commencement of prosecution at the Federal High Court, and had no correlation with the “unwarranted protest” held at the police headquarters on Thursday.
Adejobi added, “He has, however, been released upon providing a reliable surety today, Friday, May 10, 2024, pending the commencement of prosecution at the Federal High Court, which has jurisdiction over cyber related crimes.
“It is instructive to note that his release has no correlation with the unwarranted protest held at the police headquarters on May 9, 2024, but strictly due to him meeting the bail requirements and the policy of the Force on being rule of law compliant.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its duty to maintain law and order, uphold justice, and safeguard the rights of all citizens.
“We urge the public and media outlets to refrain from speculations and undue media trial in order to avoid jeopardising the legal procedures in the case.”
Ojukwu was said to have gone missing on Wednesday, May 1. His numbers were switched off and his whereabouts were unknown to colleagues, family, and friends.
Further, a FIJ hired detective tracked the last active location of the journalist’s phones to an address in Isheri Olofin, a location FIJ now believes was where the police originally picked him up.
Ojukwu’s family subsequently got wind of his detention at Panti, where they were made to understand the authorities were accusing him of violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act.
The police gave FIJ’s lawyers and negotiators, led by the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore; chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Correspondent’s Chapel, Jide Oyekunle; and Bukky Shonibare, chairman of FIJ’s Board of Trustees, stringent bail conditions.
On Thursday, some Civil Society Organisations and journalists stormed the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand the release of Ojukwu.
![A banner demanding the release of Daniel Ojukwu during a protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday [Credit: @BukkyShonibare]](https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/09110049/P10-300x232.jpg)
The protesters include a legal practitioner, Deji Adeyanju; a Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 general elections, Sowore; amongst others.
The protesters were seen carrying banners with the inscriptions, ‘Free Daniel Ojukwu,’ ‘No to a police state,’ Journalism is not a crime,’ and ‘Stop the impunity.’
However, after civil society organisations marched to the Force Headquarters on Thursday to press for his release, the police started to soft-pedal, leading to his eventual release on Friday.
“Daniel Ojukwu’s case is one of the most egregious cases of human rights violation and misuse of the powers of the Police against journalists,” said Abimbola Ojenike, Managing Partner of Slingstone LP, FIJ’s attorneys.
“This will not go unchallenged. There’s a significant public interest in Daniel’s human rights enforcement action that goes beyond just this violation. The constitutional right to free speech is dead if journalists can no longer expose the malfeasance in government officials without fear or oppression.”
