The Seventeen media and civil society organisations have condemned the remand of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing his detention as a dangerous attack on press freedom and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
The organisations, which include the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), BudgIT, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), demanded Ojukwu’s immediate release and an end to what they described as the criminalisation of investigative journalism.
Ojukwu, a journalist with FIJ, was reportedly remanded following his arraignment before the Federal High Court on a 12-count charge relating to investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024 concerning the expenditure of public funds by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
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In a joint statement issued by the organisations, they expressed concern over the court’s decision to remand the journalist 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 the conditions attached to his previously granted administrative bail.
The organisations, however, said the court declined the request for him to continue enjoying the existing bail pending the hearing of his fresh bail application.
They described the development as a disturbing escalation in the use of criminal prosecution and restrictive cybercrime provisions against journalists carrying out legitimate public-interest investigations.
The groups argued that the reports which formed the basis of the prosecution raised important questions about public expenditure, transparency and accountability, particularly concerning payments of ₦147.1 million and ₦47.5 million for classroom construction projects.
They also said the investigations raised concerns about the functionality of solar installations reportedly completed under the projects, insisting that such issues were legitimate matters of public interest that required explanations from the relevant authorities.
The organisations maintained that public officials and institutions entrusted with public resources must be prepared to explain how public funds are spent and allow their activities to be subjected to legitimate scrutiny.
They cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which recognises the responsibility of the mass media to uphold the accountability of government to the people.
They also referred to Section 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
According to the organisations, these constitutional and international provisions impose obligations on the Nigerian government to protect freedom of expression and ensure that journalists can perform their professional duties without intimidation, arbitrary detention or reprisals.
They argued that where public officials or institutions consider an investigative report inaccurate or defamatory, the law provides appropriate avenues for redress, rather than using criminal prosecution to discourage journalists from reporting matters of public interest.
The groups further expressed concern that Ojukwu had previously been detained over the same reporting, recalling that he was arrested in May 2024 and spent 10 days in detention before his release following public outcry.
They said his renewed prosecution and latest remand raised serious concerns about a possible pattern of harassment capable of creating fear among investigative journalists and discouraging media organisations from scrutinising public institutions.
The organisations warned that the implications of the case extended beyond Ojukwu and FIJ, arguing that the detention of a journalist over reports examining public expenditure could place other journalists, newsrooms, whistleblowers, civil society organisations and citizens demanding accountability at risk.
They maintained that a society in which journalists are afraid to investigate public institutions could create an environment in which corruption, abuse of power and impunity thrive without adequate scrutiny.
In their demands, the organisations called on the relevant authorities to secure Ojukwu’s immediate release and ensure that he is granted bail pending the determination of the charges against him.
They also urged the government to discontinue the use of criminal prosecution to intimidate journalists over legitimate investigative reporting, particularly reports concerning public expenditure, alleged corruption and the conduct of public officials.
The groups further called for an end to what they described as the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions to suppress freedom of expression, independent journalism and public-interest reporting.
They demanded adequate protection for Ojukwu and other journalists against harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and reprisals arising from their professional activities.
The organisations also urged the government to address the substantive questions raised in FIJ’s investigations by making relevant public records available, encouraging independent scrutiny and establishing appropriate accountability mechanisms.
They stressed that press freedom was not a privilege granted at the discretion of public officials but a fundamental democratic guarantee that must be protected.
The statement concluded that the government could not credibly claim commitment to transparency, anti-corruption and democratic governance while journalists investigating public expenditure faced detention and criminal prosecution.
The statement was 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 (DigiAfricaLab), Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Gatefield Impact Foundation, Global Rights, Hope Behind Bars Africa, International Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria, SERAP, Techsocietal and Wikki Times.
The organisations reiterated their demand for Ojukwu’s immediate release, insisting that journalists must be able to investigate public institutions, question the management of public resources and report issues of public interest without fear of imprisonment or intimidation.