SERAP calls for release of detained FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project,SERAP, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the detention of Foundation for Investigative Journalism reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who is being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

The organisation wants Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure the journalist’s immediate release and stop the use of criminal defamation and cyberstalking laws against journalists investigating alleged corruption.

Ojukwu was remanded on Tuesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja following his arraignment on 12 charges bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court ordered his remand pending the hearing of his bail application, which was adjourned until December 1, 2026.

The case is linked to investigative reports published by FIJ in 2023 and January 2024, which examined alleged spending by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, OSSAP-SDGs.

The reports questioned payments of N147.1 million and N47.5 million for classroom projects and raised concerns that solar panels installed at some of the facilities reportedly stopped working shortly after they were completed.

SERAP also wants the government to discontinue what it described as the harassment and prosecution of Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, over the publications.

The organisation said the issues raised in the reports concern the use of public money and should be addressed through transparency and accountability rather than criminal proceedings against journalists.

It argued that government agencies should make relevant documents available, explain questionable expenditure and investigate any suspected misconduct.

SERAP further warned that keeping Ojukwu behind bars could discourage other journalists from reporting on corruption and holding public institutions accountable.

It recalled that Ojukwu spent 10 days in detention in May 2024 over his reporting on allegations involving the same public official.

The organisation maintained that journalists are protected by provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It specifically cited Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, which recognise the media’s responsibility to hold government accountable and protect freedom of expression.