SERAP demands Ojukwu’s release, end to prosecution of journalists
AI Executive Briefing
Gemini Flash AI~45s readThe Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation to secure the release of journalist Daniel Ojukwu. The organization argues that the use of criminal charges to suppress investigative reporting on public fund management violates constitutional and international rights to freedom of expression.
Context & Background
- ✦The case centers on the tension between the use of cyberstalking/defamation laws and the constitutional mandate for the media to hold public officials accountable.
- ✦SERAP cites the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and UN guidelines to argue that public officials must tolerate scrutiny regarding the management of public resources.
Key Figures & Named Entities
•Daniel Ojukwu (FIJ journalist) and Fisayo Soyombo (FIJ founder) are the subjects of the ongoing prosecution.•The investigation involves alleged expenditures of N147.1 million and N47.5 million by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Outlook & Next Steps
The hearing for Daniel Ojukwu's pending bail application has been adjourned until December, while SERAP continues to advocate for the cessation of his prosecution.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary- SERAP has formally demanded the immediate release of FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu from the Kuje Correctional Centre.
- The organization is calling for an end to the use of cyberstalking and criminal defamation charges to intimidate journalists investigating public fund management.
- The prosecution of Ojukwu and FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo is linked to investigative reports regarding the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Key Facts:May 2024: Daniel Ojukwu was previously detained for 10 days in May 2024 regarding reports on the same public official.December 1, 2026: Ojukwu was arraigned on 12 counts and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until December 1, 2026.
Editorial Excerpt
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to secure the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), from the Kuje...
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
Why was Daniel Ojukwu remanded in custody?
He was remanded by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following his arraignment on 12 counts of alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.
What specific investigative reports led to the prosecution of the journalists?
The reports, published in 2023 and January 2024, questioned the expenditure of N147.1 million and N47.5 million on classroom construction projects and the functionality of installed solar panels.
