Seventeen media and civil society organisations have condemned the remand of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing his continued detention as a dangerous attack on press freedom and democratic accountability.
The organisations, under a joint statement, demanded his immediate release and an end to what they described as the criminalisation of investigative journalism.
Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, was remanded following his arraignment on a 12-count charge relating to investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024 on the expenditure of public funds by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.
The Federal High Court reportedly ordered his remand until December 1, 2026, when his bail application will be heard, despite his plea of not guilty to all charges and his lawyer’s submission that he had complied with the conditions of his previously granted administrative bail.
The organisations described the decision as a disturbing escalation in the use of criminal prosecution and restrictive cybercrime provisions against journalists carrying out legitimate public accountability functions.
They argued that the reports which triggered the prosecution raised legitimate questions about public expenditure, including payments of 147.1 million naira and 47.5 million naira for classroom construction projects, as well as concerns about the functionality of solar installations reportedly completed under the projects.
They further recalled that Ojukwu was arrested and detained for ten days in May 2024 over the same reporting before his release following public outcry, warning that his renewed prosecution suggests a disturbing pattern of harassment capable of instilling fear among investigative journalists.
The statement warned that the implications extend beyond Ojukwu and FIJ, arguing that detaining journalists for investigating public expenditure places newsrooms, whistleblowers, civil society organisations and citizens demanding accountability at risk.
They called for Ojukwu’s immediate release on bail, an end to the use of criminal prosecution to intimidate journalists, and an end to the alleged misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions to suppress independent journalism.
The groups also demanded protection for journalists against harassment and arbitrary arrest, while urging the authorities to address the substantive questions raised by FIJ through disclosure of relevant records, independent scrutiny and appropriate accountability mechanisms.
They maintained that the Nigerian government cannot credibly profess commitment to transparency, anti-corruption and democratic governance while journalists investigating public expenditure face detention and criminal prosecution.
The statement was endorsed by Accountability Lab Nigeria, BudgIT, Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Dataphyte Foundation, Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab, Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Gatefield Impact Foundation, Global Rights, Hope Behind Bars Africa, International Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, SERAP, Techsocietal and WikkiTimes.
The organisations maintained that Ojukwu must not be punished for doing his job, insisting that his immediate release is imperative and the criminalisation of investigative journalism must end.
