Twelve journalists under the aegis of the 2023 Govspend Media Fellowship have called for immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ.
The Fellows describe abduction of Mr. Ojukwu
who was later discovered in a police custody as troubling and capable of tarnishing the image of President Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued and co-signed by 11 Fellows
Including WikkiTimes Aminu
Adamu and BudgIT’s Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa who coordinates the Fellowship called on President Tinubu to instruct the Police to release Mr Ojukwu
without any delay.
“It is troubling that the authorities have disregarded the constitution they swore to
uphold by subjecting Daniel to false imprisonment. These actions go against the
purported image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, especially coming on
the heels of World Press Freedom Day.
“”We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene immediately and instruct the Inspector General of Police to release Daniel Ojukwu without delay. Furthermore, we encourage the authorities to cease their
unconstitutional actions and respect the rights of journalists and whistleblowers in Nigeria. We condemn
this gross violation of human rights and all unjust actions targeted at journalists for their commitment
to truth and transparency.
“Daniel Ojukwu’s investigative work, along with that of other GovSpend fellows, has been
instrumental in uncovering corruption across various levels of government, potentially
saving the federal government a significant amount of public funds; thus, the efforts to
promote accountability and transparency in government expenditures should be
commended, not persecuted, the statement noted.
It added “Findings revealed that Daniel Ojukwu’s abduction is connected to a recent investigative
report conducted under BudgIT’s GovSpend Media Fellowship. The report, part of a
series produced by 12 other fellows, exposed discrepancies in government expenditure
and violations of the Procurement Acts in executing federal government projects in
Lagos and Ogun States.
“Specifically, Daniel explored the data provided by the Federal Government on the National Open
Treasury Portal to expose violations of the laws by the office of Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior
Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs).
“It has also been reported that Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Former National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), submitted the petition leading to the
abduction of Daniel Ojukwu by the Nigerian Police Force.
Mr. Ojukwu’s Lagos-based FIJ, in an X update earlier today, confirmed that the Police Force has moved him Federal Criminal Investigation Bureau from where he has been detained excommunicado.
There is growing concern among journalists and civil society organizations on the fate of freedom of the press and expression under President Tinubu who will clock first anniversary later in May due to use of Police and other law enforcement agencies against journalists in Nigeria.
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