Sowore demands release of detained FIJ journalist Ojukwu

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the immediate release of Foundation for Investigative Journalism reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

Sowore made the demand in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, expressing concern over the prolonged detention of journalists and the time taken by courts to hear bail applications.

The human rights activist also criticised the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to remand Ojukwu until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is scheduled to be heard.

“Remanding a journalist who is not on the run for 21 days merely to hear a bail application is unacceptable and wicked!” Sowore wrote.

Ojukwu had pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences, including cyberstalking.

The charge, dated December 19, 2024, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/486/2024. Former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is listed as the complainant, while Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, are the defendants.

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that the journalists conspired to commit cyberstalking and transmitted reports published on the FIJ website that allegedly placed presidential aide, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.

Orelope-Adefulire served as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State from 2003 to 2011 before becoming Deputy Governor between 2011 and 2015, during which she also oversaw the ministry.

She later served as SSA to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals and was retained in the position by Tinubu.

She was Buhari’s aide when the incident that led to the case occurred.

One of the counts specifically refers to an FIJ investigation published on November 7, 2023, titled, “Special Report: 2 Weeks Before End of Buhari’s Tenure, Special Assistant, Adefulire Paid a Restaurant N17.1m to Build Classrooms in Lagos. A Lot Was Amiss.”

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution told the court that Soyombo was at large and requested a bench warrant for his arrest.

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The judge, however, rejected the request, stating that the second defendant had not previously been brought before the court.

After Ojukwu entered his plea, the prosecution requested that he be remanded in custody.

His lawyers drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application and urged it to allow him to continue on his administrative bail, arguing that he had not breached any of its conditions.

The judge declined the request, noting that the charge had been served on Ojukwu long before his bail application was filed on Monday.

The court subsequently fixed December 1 for the hearing of the application.

Reacting, Sowore described the development as “punishment before conviction”, arguing that it undermined the constitutional presumption of innocence and the right to personal liberty.

He said, “The practice of throwing people into prison through prolonged bail proceedings is becoming disturbingly common in Nigeria’s Federal High Courts.”

He questioned the rationale behind the prolonged detention of defendants awaiting bail hearings, asking, “What happened to the presumption of innocence? What happened to the constitutional right to liberty? Since when did bail become a punishment in itself?”

Sowore specifically appealed to Justice Abdulmalik over Ojukwu’s remand, saying, “A journalist should not have to spend 21 days in prison simply waiting for an opportunity to argue for bail.”

He also called for greater attention to the activities of the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre, headed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akayinne Ezima, and the handling of cybercrime-related cases.

“The courts are supposed to protect citizens against arbitrary detention, not become instruments for prolonging it. Judicial discretion must never become a licence for judicial oppression,” he said.

Sowore concluded his statement with a demand for the journalist’s freedom, declaring, “FREE DANIEL OJUKWU NOW!”