Daniel Ojukwu: Tinubu Urged to “Intervene Immediately” in Journalist’s Travail
- The 2023 GovSpend Media Fellowship has demanded the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)
- Legit.ng reports that the fellows expressed their worry over the safety of journalists in Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria
- In a statement signed by 12 top Nigerian journalists, the journalism fellows said the demand followed the report of the controversial arrest of the
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FCT, Abuja - The 2023 GovSpend Media Fellowship, an initiative of BudgIT, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately intervene in the ordeal of Daniel Ojukwu.
Legit.ng reports that Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been in police custody since Wednesday, May 1, after he was controversially arrested in Lagos, sparking outrage from several media practitioners and human rights activists.
Source: Twitter
Ojukwu was reportedly detained over a story he authored on contract procurement by the office of the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the senior special assistant to President Tinubu on sustainable development goals and a former deputy-governor of Lagos, headed the contract acquisition.
The family of the journalist and FIJ management were initially not aware of his whereabouts until 48 hours after he was declared missing.
The journalist was not allowed to communicate with his family members and friends as his mobile gadgets were seized.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), said the journalist has a case to answer over alleged violation of sections of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015.
Reacting to the continued detention of Ojukwu, 2023 fellows of the GovSpend Media which Ojukwu is part of, expressed strong concern.
The Fellowship’s statement signed by 12 Nigerian journalists, obtained by Legit.ng on Tuesday, May 7, stated that President Tinubu should instruct the inspector general of police (IGP) to release Ojukwu without delay.
It partly reads:
“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene immediately and instruct the inspector general of police to release Daniel Ojukwu without delay.
“Furthermore, we encourage the authorities to cease their unconstitutional actions and respect the rights of journalists and whistleblowers in Nigeria.
"We condemn this gross violation of human rights and all unjust actions targeted at journalists for their commitment to truth and transparency.”
Ojukwu's detention threatens press freedom: Lawyer
Speaking to Legit.ng, Festus Ogun, a human rights lawyer, said there is no legal or moral justification for Ojukwu's continuous detention.
According to Ogun, the pressman's incarceration is arbitrary and a gross violation of his rights to personal liberty, dignity of human person and free speech guaranteed by the 1999 constitution.
He said:
"I don't know how IGP Egbetokun sleeps at night knowing fully well that journalist Daniel Ojukwu is being held illegally and unconstitutionally.
"There is no legal or moral justification for the young man's continuous detention.
"Freedom of the press is a constitutional right. Therefore, authorities should free Daniel immediately and unconditionally."
Court grants bail to 5 journalists arrested in Abuja
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that five journalists arrested by the federal capital territory (FCT) police command for allegedly pranking people at the premises of the Wuse District Hospital were finally granted bail.
In a short ruling, Senior Magistrate Musa Jobbo, granted the journalists bail in the sum of N100,000 each and a surety who must be resident in the FCT.
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Source: Legit.ng
