….16 organisations condemn prosecution, warn against criminalisation of investigative journalism**
By Grace Ofurum
Sixteen media and civil society organisations have called for the immediate release of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu, who is being remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja over reports questioning public expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
The organisations, in a joint statement, condemned Ojukwu’s remand following his arraignment on a 12-count charge relating to investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024 by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), where he works.
They described his continued detention as a dangerous attack on press freedom and democratic accountability, warning that the prosecution could intimidate journalists and discourage investigative reporting on matters of public interest.
The Federal High Court had ordered that Ojukwu be remanded until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is scheduled to be heard.
According to the statement, Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to all the charges, while his counsel informed the court that he had complied with all conditions attached to his previously granted administrative bail.
The groups expressed concern that the court declined the request for him to continue on the existing bail pending the hearing of his application.
They noted that the reports leading to the prosecution raised questions about public expenditure, including payments of N147.1 million and N47.5 million for classroom construction projects, as well as concerns about the functionality of solar installations reportedly completed under the projects.
The organisations maintained that such issues were legitimate matters of public interest that required transparency and accountability from public officials entrusted with public resources.
They argued that criminal prosecution, intimidation and detention should not be used against journalists carrying out their constitutional responsibility of holding government accountable.
The statement further recalled that Ojukwu was arrested and detained for 10 days in May 2024 over the same reporting before his release following public outcry.
The organisations said his renewed prosecution raised concerns about a pattern of harassment capable of undermining press freedom and creating fear among investigative journalists.
They warned that the implications of his detention extended beyond Ojukwu and FIJ, stressing that journalists, newsrooms, whistleblowers, civil society organisations and citizens demanding accountability could all be affected.
The groups cited Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as legal protections for freedom of expression and the press.
They urged the government to respect these guarantees and ensure that journalists perform their professional duties without intimidation, arbitrary arrest or reprisals.
Among their demands, the organisations called on relevant authorities to secure Ojukwu’s immediate release and grant him bail pending the determination of the charges against him.
They also demanded an end to the use of criminal prosecution, the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions to suppress independent journalism and public-interest reporting.
The groups further called for adequate protection of journalists against harassment and arbitrary arrest, while urging the government to address the issues raised in the FIJ investigations through the disclosure of relevant records, independent scrutiny and appropriate accountability mechanisms.
They maintained that public officials must be open to scrutiny, particularly over the management of public funds.
The statement was jointly signed by Accountability Lab Nigeria, BudgIT, Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dataphyte Foundation, Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab, Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative and Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria.
Others are Gatefield Impact Foundation, Global Rights, Hope Behind Bars Africa, International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and WikkiTimes.
The organisations insisted that press freedom was a fundamental democratic guarantee and not a privilege granted at the discretion of public officials.
They urged the Nigerian government to demonstrate its commitment to transparency, anti-corruption and democratic governance by ensuring that journalists are not punished for investigating and reporting on matters of public interest.
