Court remands FIJ journalist over reports on Buhari’s ex-aide
AI Executive Briefing
Gemini Flash AI~45s readA Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu to Kuje prison after he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count cyberstalking charge. The charges arise from an investigative report concerning financial transactions involving former presidential aide Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
Context & Background
- ✦The case involves the application of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015, which the prosecution alleges was violated through reports that placed the complainant in fear of death or violence.
- ✦The legal proceedings follow a history of tension between the Nigeria Police Force and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, including a previous 10-day detention of Ojukwu in May 2024.
Key Figures & Named Entities
•Daniel Ojukwu (Defendant) and Fisayo Soyombo (Co-defendant/FIJ Founder).•Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (Complainant/Former Presidential Aide) and Justice Joyce Abdulmalik (Presiding Judge).•N17.1 million (Amount cited in the investigative report regarding classroom construction).
Outlook & Next Steps
The court has scheduled the hearing for the defendant's bail application for December 1, 2026, while the trial on the 12-count cybercrime charge proceeds.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary- FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu has been remanded to Kuje Correctional Centre by a Federal High Court in Abuja following a 12-count charge of cyberstalking.
- The charges stem from an investigative report published by FIJ regarding a N17.1 million payment made by former presidential aide Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire to a restaurant for classroom construction.
- Justice Joyce Abdulmalik denied the immediate bail application for Ojukwu, scheduling the hearing for December 1, 2026, while rejecting a request for a bench warrant against FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo.
Key Facts:May 1, 2024: Daniel Ojukwu was initially arrested by the Intelligence Response Team and held for 10 days before being released following public protests.November 7, 2023: The Foundation for Investigative Journalism reported that Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire paid a restaurant N17.1 million to build classrooms in Lagos.December 1, 2026: Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date for the hearing of the bail application for the remanded journalist.
Editorial Excerpt
A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu to Kuje prison over cyberstalking charges linked to his reports on a former aide.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
Why was the bench warrant for Fisayo Soyombo rejected by the court?
The court rejected the application because the second defendant, Soyombo, had never been brought before the court, making it procedurally impossible to issue a bench warrant.
What specific charges are being brought against Daniel Ojukwu?
Ojukwu is facing a 12-count charge related to cybercrime, specifically cyberstalking, under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
