Investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has been in Nigerian custody since May 1st, sparking worries about press freedom in the country.
Ojukwu’s family and colleagues were left in the dark for nearly two days after he went missing. FIJ eventually filed a missing person report, only to learn that Ojukwu was being held by the National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
Authorities claim Ojukwu violated the 2015 Cybercrime Prohibition Act but have not provided specifics. FIJ strongly believes this detention is retribution for Ojukwu’s recent investigative work and has demanded his immediate release. The story was about an illegal contract award by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) published in November 2023.
Ojukwu’s case has garnered attention from rights groups who are urging Nigerian authorities to uphold press freedom and due process. The Coalition for Whistle blowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned Ojukwu’s detention, calling it an “assault on press freedom.”
Ojukwu’s case remains unresolved, highlighting the vulnerability of journalists in Nigeria and the potential misuse of cybercrime laws to stifle investigative reporting.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
