The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the immediate release of Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
Sowore made the demand in a statement posted on his X account, expressing concern over the prolonged detention of journalists and delays in hearing bail applications.
He criticised the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to remand Ojukwu until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is scheduled for hearing.
“Remanding a journalist who is not on the run for 21 days merely to hear a bail application is unacceptable and wicked!” he wrote.
Ojukwu had pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences, including cyberstalking.
The charge, dated December 19, 2024, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/486/2024. Former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is listed as the complainant, while Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, are named as defendants.
The prosecution alleged that the journalists conspired to commit cyberstalking and transmitted reports published on the FIJ website that allegedly caused presidential aide, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, to fear death, violence or bodily harm.
One of the counts relates to an FIJ investigation published on November 7, 2023, concerning an alleged N17.1 million payment to a restaurant for classroom construction in Lagos shortly before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution told the court that Soyombo was at large and requested a bench warrant for his arrest. However, the judge declined, noting that the second defendant had not previously been brought before the court.
Following Ojukwu’s plea, the prosecution requested that he be remanded in custody.
His lawyers opposed the request, drawing the court’s attention to a pending bail application and urging the court to allow him to remain on administrative bail, arguing that he had not violated any of its conditions.
The judge rejected the request and fixed December 1, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
Reacting, Sowore described the development as “punishment before conviction”, arguing that it undermined the constitutional presumption of innocence and the right to personal liberty.
He questioned why defendants had to remain in custody for extended periods while waiting for their bail applications to be heard.
Sowore also appealed directly to Justice Abdulmalik, insisting that a journalist should not spend 21 days in prison simply waiting for an opportunity to argue for bail.
He further called for scrutiny of the activities of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, headed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akayinne Ezima, particularly its handling of cybercrime-related cases.
“The courts are supposed to protect citizens against arbitrary detention, not become instruments for prolonging it. Judicial discretion must never become a licence for judicial oppression,” he said.
Sowore ended his statement with a renewed demand for Ojukwu’s freedom, declaring: “FREE DANIEL OJUKWU NOW!”
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