Praise Isioye
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress, is calling for the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism. Ojukwu has been held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja since Tuesday.
Sowore expressed his concerns through a statement on his X account, highlighting his worries about how long journalists are being detained and how slowly courts are handling bail requests.
The human rights activist also criticized the Federal High Court in Abuja for deciding to keep Ojukwu in custody until December 1, 2026, when they will hear his bail request.
“Keeping a journalist who is not trying to escape locked up for 21 days just to consider a bail application is unacceptable and cruel!” Sowore stated.
Ojukwu has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to alleged cybercrimes, including cyberstalking.
The charges were filed on December 19, 2024, under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/486/2024. Former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun is listed as the complainant, with Ojukwu and FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo as the defendants.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors claim that the journalists worked together to commit cyberstalking by publishing reports on the FIJ website that allegedly made presidential aide Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire fear for her safety.
Orelope-Adefulire was the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State from 2003 to 2011. After that, she became the Deputy Governor from 2011 to 2015, during which time she also managed the ministry.
Later, she worked as a Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals for former President Muhammadu Buhari and kept her role under President Tinubu.
She was an aide to Buhari when the event that led to the case took place.
One of the charges relates to an investigation by FIJ published on November 7, 2023. The report, 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,” raised several concerns.
During Tuesday’s court session, the prosecution informed the judge that Soyombo was currently missing and asked for a warrant for his arrest.
However, the judge denied this request, explaining that the second defendant had not been previously brought before the court.
After Ojukwu entered his plea, the prosecution asked for him to be held in custody.
His lawyers pointed out that there was a bail application still pending and requested that he be allowed to remain on his administrative bail since he had not violated any conditions.
The judge turned down their request, noting that Ojukwulong had already been served with charges before his bail application was submitted on Monday.
The court has set December 1 for the hearing of the application.
In response, Sowore called this situation “punishment before conviction,” stating that it goes against the constitutional right to be presumed innocent and the right to personal freedom.
“It is becoming alarmingly common in Nigeria’s Federal High Courts for people to be jailed while waiting for bail,” he noted.
Sowore challenged the reasoning behind keeping defendants in custody as they wait for bail hearings, asking, “What happened to being presumed innocent? What happened to our right to freedom? Since when did bail turn into a punishment?”
He specifically urged Justice Abdulmalik regarding Ojukwu’s detention, saying, “A journalist should not have to spend 21 days in jail just waiting for a chance to ask for bail.”
He also emphasized the need for more scrutiny over the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force, led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akayinne Ezima, and how they handle cybercrime cases.
“The courts should defend citizens from unfair detention, not become tools that extend it. Judicial discretion must never allow judicial oppression,” he remarked.
Sowore ended his statement by demanding the journalist’s release, declaring, “FREE DANIEL OJUKWU NOW!”
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