Group Urges Court To Expedite Action On Detained FIJ Reporter, Daniel Ojukwu

Dragging Matter Is Infringement On His Right, Threat To Press Freedom – Soloki

The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called on the Federal High Court, Abuja, to expedite action on the case of the detained reporter of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu, and not drag the matter for too long.

In a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, the Executive Director of CAIDOV, Gbenga Soloki, said while Ojukwu is in detention on the order of the court, keeping him in Kuje Correctional Centre until December 1, 2026, just to hear his bail application, amounts to an infringement on his fundamental human rights.

Ojukwu was remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge of cyberstalking and criminal defamation over FIJ reports on the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

Soloki said the court should not allow the case to suffer unnecessary adjournments.

“The court should expedite action on this matter. A journalist who has pleaded not guilty and who is not on the run should not be kept in prison for 21 days merely to hear bail. That is dragging the matter for too long,” Soloki said.

He said the prolonged detention violates Sections 35 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee personal liberty and freedom of expression, and also violates the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

“The continued detention of Daniel Ojukwu is an infringement on his right to personal liberty, his right to freedom of expression and his right to practise his profession without fear,” he said.

Soloki warned that the delay sent a dangerous signal to journalists that they could be punished through prolonged detention even before trial.

“This is a threat to press freedom. When one journalist is detained for doing his job, every journalist is threatened. When the press is silenced, democracy is endangered because the press is the watchdog of the society,” he said.

He maintained that journalism is not a crime and that investigative reporting remains a legitimate and constitutionally protected duty.

Soloki, therefore, urged the court to bring forward the hearing of the bail application and to ensure accelerated hearing of the substantive case.

“We are not asking the court to prejudge the matter. We are asking for expeditious hearing. Grant him bail, hear the case quickly, and let justice be done without delay. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

The CAIDOV boss also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to review the charge and consider discontinuing the prosecution in the interest of press freedom.

He further called on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, civil society organisations, human rights lawyers and the international community to monitor the case and demand speedy justice for Ojukwu.

“We will not fold our arms while journalists are hunted for speaking truth to power. CAIDOV will continue to stand against injustice, intimidation, and any attempt to gag the press,” Soloki added.

He reiterated that Nigeria can not build a strong democracy while journalists live in fear of arrest, remand, and prolonged detention for doing their constitutional duty.