Police finally release journalist Ojukwu after 10 days in detention

The police have released a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu after 10 days in custody.

Ojukwu was arrested over a report he published on abuse of contract procurement procedure allegedly by Orelope-Adefulire, senior special assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

The arrest was in a manner fitting abduction, with his whereabouts unknown until a search revealed he was at Force CID in Panti, Lagos. He was later transferred to the cybercrime unit of the police.

All efforts to initially secure his release via administrative bail were met with difficulty. The police insisted that only persons in the rank of directors and must be two would be qualified to stand as surety for him.

Reacting to the bail condition, Africa Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, said Nigerian politicians with cases of theft of billions are not given such stringent bail conditions, wondering why a journalist should be treated in that manner.

The release of Ojukwu came a day after civil society groups staged a protest at the premises of the police headquarters.