By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called for the immediate release of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) correspondent, Daniel Ojukwu, warning that his continued detention could undermine press freedom and discourage investigative journalism in Nigeria.
The Guild made the call on Sunday following Ojukwu’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja over allegations of cyberstalking and criminal defamation linked to investigative reports on the expenditure of public funds by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the NGE described the journalist’s prosecution as an attempt to criminalise legitimate journalistic duties and silence questions about public accountability.
The Guild said Ojukwu was being prosecuted over reports that questioned the alleged payment of more than ₦147m to an Abuja-based restaurant for the construction of classrooms and a skills acquisition centre at a primary school in Lagos.
According to the NGE, the investigation raised legitimate concerns about the existence of the projects and the capacity of the company awarded the contract.
“These are legitimate issues of public accountability that deserve transparent answers, not the criminalisation of the journalist who brought them to public attention,” the statement said.
Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, are facing a 12-count charge involving allegations of cyberstalking and criminal defamation over reports concerning President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Ojukwu’s remand on November 10, pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for December 1.
The journalist pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the prosecution alleged that the reports placed Orelope-Adefulire in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.
The NGE warned that using criminal prosecution to respond to investigative reports could create an atmosphere of fear among journalists and weaken the media’s constitutional responsibility to hold public officials accountable.
It maintained that investigative journalism was not a crime and that questioning public expenditure should not be treated as cyberstalking or defamation.
The Guild also expressed concern over the possible chilling effect of the case, warning that journalists could become reluctant to investigate alleged financial irregularities if reporting on public officials exposed them to detention and prosecution.
Citing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, the NGE stressed that freedom of expression and the media’s responsibility to hold the government accountable must be protected.
It called for Ojukwu’s immediate release on bail, an end to the harassment of journalists and a review of the charges against him and Soyombo.
The Guild further urged law enforcement agencies to desist from abusing cybersecurity laws and called on the judiciary to safeguard fundamental rights.
It also insisted that allegations involving the misuse of public funds should be addressed through transparent investigative processes rather than intimidation of journalists.
Ojukwu was previously arrested on May 1, 2024, over the same investigative reports and detained for 10 days before his release following protests at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Orelope-Adefulire served as Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation between 2003 and 2011 and later became Deputy Governor from 2011 to 2015. She subsequently served as Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals from 2016 and retained the position under President Tinubu.
