Court orders FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu’s detention over 2023 reports on Tinubu’s aide

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), at the Kuje Correctional Centre over reports he published concerning Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs).

The order was issued on Tuesday after Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.

The court directed that the journalist remain in custody pending the hearing of his bail application, which has been scheduled for December 1, 2026.

Ojukwu’s latest detention comes more than two years after he was arrested and held by police officers over the same reports concerning the presidential aide.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution applied for Ojukwu’s remand after the charges were read to him.

Ojukwu’s counsel drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application, but the presiding judge declined to hear it, noting that it was filed on Monday and was not yet ripe for hearing.

The defence also asked the court to allow Ojukwu to continue on administrative bail, arguing that he had not breached any of its conditions.

However, the court rejected the request, noting that the charge had been served on the defendant long before the bail application was filed.

The prosecution also informed the court that Fisayo Soyombo, FIJ founder and second defendant in the case, was at large and sought a bench warrant for his arrest.

The court rejected the request, saying Soyombo had never been brought before it and that it could not issue a bench warrant to compel his appearance.

Kunle Lawal, Tolulope Osho, Grace Baiyeshea and Marvelous Orji appeared for the prosecution, while Atanda Kayode, Ayo Oluseye, Olaoluwa Ariyo and MBI Amosun represented Ojukwu.

2024 ABDUCTION

Ojukwu’s latest detention comes more than two years after he was arrested by officers of the intelligence response team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on May 1, 2024.

The journalist was picked up at Isheri-Olofin, Lagos, following an investigation into reports concerning Orelope-Adefulire, who served as senior special assistant to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari on sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He was initially taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Lagos, before being transferred to Abuja four days later.

In Abuja, he was held at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and subsequently moved to the detention facility of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Area 10.

Ojukwu was released on May 10, 2024, following public outcry and pressure from rights groups.

However, the police reportedly retained his international passport over concerns that he might leave the country. He was also required to report to the NPF-NCCC several times in connection with the investigation.

THE CHARGE

The 12-count charge accuses Ojukwu and Soyombo of cyberstalking and criminal defamation over reports published on FIJ’s website between 2023 and 2024.

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that the publications exposed Orelope-Adefulire to fear of death, violence or bodily harm.

Some of the reports questioned the expenditure of N147.5 million by the office of the SSAP-SDGs on the construction of classrooms and a skills acquisition centre at Ajeromi Primary School in Lagos.

One of the publications, titled Special Report: 2 Weeks Before End of Buhari’s Tenure, Special Assistant, Adefulire Paid a Restaurant N147.1m to Build Classrooms in Lagos. A Lot Was Amiss, was published on November 7, 2023.

Another report, published on December 3, 2023, was titled How Orelope Adefulire’s OSSAP-SDGs Paid N47.5m for Shady Contract on Amosun’s Request.

The charge sheet also referenced a November 9, 2023 report titled Flashback: How EFCC made Orelope-Adefulire’s SDGs Forfeit N241m Instead of Billions.

A January 21, 2024 report titled One Week After OSSAP-SDGs Built Classroom Blocks in Amosu’s District, Solar Panels Stop Working was also listed among the publications.

In the reports, FIJ questioned the execution of projects funded by the SSAP-SDGs office, including the construction of classroom blocks and the installation of solar panels.

FIJ had reported that its visit to Ajeromi Primary School in October 2023 revealed a dilapidated and understaffed facility, with no visible evidence of the reported construction work. The organisation also said a mosque stood on the site where the school was expected to be.

The charge sheet, dated September 19, 2024, lists 12 counts under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, and the Criminal Code Act.

The case was adjourned until December 1 for the hearing of Ojukwu’s bail application.

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