The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the arrest, detention, and remand of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing his criminal prosecution as an attack on press freedom.
In a statement issued on Sunday and jointly signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild demanded Ojukwu’s immediate release on bail and called for a review of the charges filed against him and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo.
Ojukwu and Soyombo face a 12-count charge of cyberstalking and criminal defamation stemming from investigative reports on public expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), led by Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
On November 10, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Ojukwu’s remand at Kuje prison after he pleaded not guilty to the charges, adjourning his bail hearing to December 1. During the sitting, the court rejected a request by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for a bench warrant against Soyombo, ruling that such an order could not be issued against a defendant who had not yet appeared before the court. Soyombo has since stated he will appear on December 1.
Reacting to the development, the NGE warned against criminalising public-interest journalism.
‘The Guild is deeply alarmed that a journalist whose professional duty is to investigate and report matters of public interest is being subjected to criminal prosecution and incarceration over reports that raised serious questions about the expenditure of public funds by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals,’ the statement read.
‘Ojukwu’s investigation reportedly exposed the alleged payment of more than ₦147 million (approximately $109,000) to an Abuja-based restaurant for the construction of classrooms and a skills acquisition centre at a primary school in Lagos. His findings raised questions about the existence of the projects and the capacity and track record of the company involved in 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.’
Citing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, the Guild maintained that scrutinising public funds is a constitutional duty of the press rather than a crime.
‘Investigative journalism is not a crime. Asking questions about public expenditure is not cyberstalking. Demanding accountability from public officials is not defamation,’ the editors stated, warning that jailing journalists over anti-corruption reports sends a chilling message of ‘investigate at your peril’ across the media landscape.
While acknowledging the right of individuals to seek civil redress for perceived reputational harm, the NGE urged law enforcement agencies to halt the misuse of cybersecurity laws to intimidate journalists, and called on the judiciary to protect fundamental rights.
‘The Guild will not stand by while freedom of the press is eroded through intimidation, harassment and the misuse of the criminal justice system,’ it added.
The case stems from an investigation published during Orelope-Adefulire’s tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari—a role she retained under President Bola Tinubu. Ojukwu was previously arrested over the same report on May 1, 2024, and held for 10 days before his release following protests at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
