Amnesty Int’l, SERAP demand release of detained FIJ...
AI Executive Briefing
Gemini Flash AI~45s readAmnesty International and SERAP are calling for the release of FIJ reporter Daniel Ojukwu, who is currently detained at Kuje Custodial Centre following charges of cyberstalking and criminal defamation. The charges stem from investigative reports published by FIJ regarding the financial activities of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Context & Background
- ✦The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding the use of criminal justice mechanisms, such as cyberstalking and defamation laws, to address investigative journalism in Nigeria.
- ✦The reports in question scrutinized public expenditure, including multi-million Naira payments for classroom projects and solar installations, which the organizations argue should be met with transparency rather than prosecution.
Key Figures & Named Entities
•Daniel Ojukwu (FIJ Reporter) and Fisayo Soyombo (FIJ Founder) are the subjects of the 12-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force.•Financial figures mentioned include N147.1 million, N47.5 million, and N241 million, all linked to the OSSAP-SDGs office.
Outlook & Next Steps
Daniel Ojukwu remains in custody at the Kuje Custodial Centre, with his bail application hearing scheduled for December 1.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary- Amnesty International and SERAP have demanded the immediate release of FIJ reporter Daniel Ojukwu, who is currently remanded at Kuje Custodial Centre.
- Ojukwu faces 12 counts of cyberstalking and criminal defamation related to 2023 investigative reports on the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
- The Nigeria Police Force is also seeking the prosecution of FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo, alleging conspiracy alongside Ojukwu regarding reports on public expenditure.
Key Facts:November 2023 and January 2024: FIJ published reports questioning public expenditure between these dates.December 1: Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered Daniel Ojukwu to remain in custody until his bail application hearing.
Editorial Excerpt
Amnesty International Nigeria and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have called for the release of Foundation for Investigative...
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
Why was Daniel Ojukwu remanded in custody?
He was remanded by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading not guilty to 12 counts of cyberstalking and criminal defamation regarding reports on the OSSAP-SDGs.
What specific financial allegations were raised in the FIJ reports?
The reports questioned a N147.1 million payment to a restaurant for classroom construction, a N47.5 million contract awarded to Tru3 Nigeria Limited, and the EFCC's forfeiture of N241 million linked to the SDGs office.
