NUJ and IPI demand release of journalist Daniel Ojukwu, as tortured Segun Olatunji resigns from job
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Both the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) have joined other rights activists to demand the release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who remains in police detention despite strong calls for them to set him free.
Ojukwu’s lawyer, Abimbola Ojenike, on Tuesday recounted on Channels Television that Ojukwu was abducted on May 1 – hours to this year’s Press Freedom Day and seven weeks after First News Editor Segun Olatunji was released from military detention where he was tortured for two weeks.
“We observed that Daniel Ojukwu was missing and his numbers were deactivated. A subsequent private investigation revealed that he was, based on the phone signals, found at somewhere around Isheri Olofin. Nobody knew his whereabouts from then,” Ojenike said.
“Subsequent information revealed that he was at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, and his mother found him there. No explanation was given as to the details of his arrest and he was not granted bail.”
Ojenike stressed that
- The order on which Ojukwu was “abducted” came from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
- Ojukwu was denied access to his counsel and relocated to Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja subsequently.
“He has not been charged, he has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction but he was later presented with a petition regarding a certain story that he wrote about a certain [former] Deputy Governor of Lagos State who is currently a special adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.”
Ojenike also disclosed Ojukwu has written a statement based on the petition filed against him and “we believe that the normal thing is for him to be granted bail.
“He [Ojukwu] is not a flight risk in any way and if he had been invited, he would have honoured the police invitation. So, there is no point taking people in a way that gets everyone agitated.”
Individual and corporate citizens have heavily criticised the abduction and continued detention of Ojukwu without trial in a supposed democracy.
The latest civil organisations to join their voices to the demand for his release include the NUJ, IPI Nigeria, ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International, and BudgIT, an advocacy for transparency and accountability.
Chris Isiguzo (NUJ National President)
“I’m shocked that up till now, nothing had been done,” Isiguzo said on Channels Television, in reference to assurances given on May 4 by Information Minister Mohammed Idris that the matter was being resolved.
“We want to add our voices to other voices that the detained journalist should be released. Keeping him in detention for this length of time, I don’t think it serves the essence of press freedom. We just celebrated that last week and to think that whilst the celebration was going on, a journalist is kept in captivity is not a good one.
“Whatever is the situation, those holding him should charge him to court. In the absence of that, he should be released immediately.”
Amnesty International
Amnesty International sought Ojukwu’s release as well as an end to arrests and sponsored smear campaigns against journalists investigating corruption.
IPI Nigeria
“IPI Nigeria strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of Mr Ojukwu,” the group said in a statement.
“Coming at about the period the world is celebrating the freedom of the press, the action of the Nigeria Police Force speaks volumes of the attitude and commitment of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to the freedom of the press.
“Some weeks ago, the Nigerian military abducted a journalist, Mr Segun Olatunji, in a Gestapo manner in Lagos and flew him to Abuja under humiliating conditions in apparent violation of his rights to dignity and expression.
“With the two incidents cited above, a pattern has emerged that points to the fact that the administration of President Bola Tinubu does not only condone repression of freedom of the press but also encourage it, in contradiction of promises made during the president’s inaugural speech that his administration would uphold fundamental human rights.”
BudgIT
“It is alarming that Daniel Ojukwu’s family only became aware of his detention after a private detective hired by FIJ tracked his phone’s last active location to an address in Isheri Olofin, which the police now acknowledge as the place of his arrest,” BudgIT lamented in its own statement.
“This lack of transparency and accountability by the authorities is unacceptable and violates Daniel’s fundamental rights.
“Journalists’ arrest for simply carrying out their duties undermines press freedom and the right to freedom of expression, which are enshrined in international human rights instruments.”
ActionAid Nigeria
ActionAid Nigeria described as alarming, the manner of Ojukwu’s detention, saying it raises “serious questions about the conduct of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
“We demand transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law in this matter.”
Police insist Ojukwu “has a case to answer”
Police Force Headquarters spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi insisted on Channels Television last Sunday that Ojukwu has a case to answer.
“It has been confirmed that the journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, was arrested by the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja, based on a petition filed against him,” he said.
“It’s a case of violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other extant laws of the land. He has a case to answer. This was confirmed to me on Sunday by the CP and head of the centre.
“The FHQ will address this matter ASAP to clear the grey areas.”
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