Outrage is mounting over the continued detention of Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who has now spent over a week in police custody. The journalist’s prolonged detention has ignited public criticism and raised serious concerns about press freedom and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Mr. Ojukwu was arrested last week by officers of the Nigeria Police Force-National Cyber Crime Centre in Lagos. Authorities allege that the reporter violated the Cybercrime Act of 2015, but no specific charges have been formally filed against him.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Ojukwu’s arrest and detention have been widely condemned. Activists, media stakeholders, and members of the civil society have described his arrest as an attempt to intimidate and silence critical voices in the Nigerian media landscape.
Uche Ifeanyi, the Director of the Nigeria Police Force-National Cyber Crime Centre, stated that the journalist’s bail conditions had not been met. However, many question the legality of the lengthy detention and the basis for setting restrictive bail conditions that seem designed to keep the journalist behind bars.
Breaching Legal Standards
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, has unequivocally condemned Mr. Ojukwu’s prolonged detention. Anaba maintains that the NGE is working behind the scenes to secure the journalist’s release but emphasizes that Nigerian law does not permit the detention of any individual for more than 24 hours without being formally charged and brought before a court. In his words, “The police cannot detain somebody for seven days under any law in Nigeria as we speak.”
The police’s continued insistence that Mr. Ojukwu has committed a cybercrime raises eyebrows, given the FIJ’s reputation for in-depth reporting and investigative journalism that holds power to account. Concerns arise as to whether this arrest signals a broader crackdown on press freedom and a growing intolerance for critical reporting in the country.
Chilling Effect on Investigative Journalism
The prolonged detention of Mr. Ojukwu sends a chilling message throughout Nigeria’s journalistic community. If reporters can be arbitrarily arrested and detained for simply doing their jobs, the very foundation of a free press is put at risk. This casts a dark shadow on investigative journalism in Nigeria, potentially dissuading reporters from pursuing sensitive stories that could expose corruption, abuse of power, or social ills.
The situation highlights the urgent need for law enforcement agencies to uphold the rule of law and respect the rights of journalists enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. Furthermore, it calls for a review of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 and its potential for misuse in curtailing press freedom under the guise of safeguarding against cyber threats.
The arrest and prolonged detention of Daniel Ojukwu are a worrying development in Nigeria’s democratic landscape. Citizens across the nation are united in calling for the immediate release of the journalist and an end to the unlawful harassment of media professionals. As Nigerians and the global community keenly observe this case, the actions of the police will serve as a barometer for the state of press freedom and the rule of law in the country.
