Court Remands FIJ Journalist Over Reports on Tinubu’s Aide

The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reporter Daniel Ojukwu on the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on cyberstalking prices linked to investigative experiences about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered Ojukwu’s remand till 1 December 2026, when the courtroom is scheduled to listen to his bail software. The journalist pleaded not responsible to all 12 counts filed towards him.

According to the cost sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/486/2024, the case was introduced by the police and names Ojukwu and FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo as defendants. Soyombo was not current in courtroom.

Prosecutors allege that investigative experiences printed by FIJ between 2023 and 2024 amounted to cyberstalking and induced Orelope-Adefulire to worry for her security. One of the experiences cited within the prices questioned the cost of ₦17.1 million to a restaurant for the development of school rooms in Lagos shortly earlier than the top of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

After Ojukwu entered his not-guilty plea, the prosecution requested the courtroom to remand him pending trial. His authorized workforce drew the courtroom’s consideration to a pending bail software and requested that he be allowed to stay on the phrases of his earlier administrative bail. However, Justice Abdulmalik declined the request, noting that the bail software had solely just lately been filed and was not but prepared for listening to.

The prosecution additionally sought a bench warrant for Soyombo, claiming he was at massive. The courtroom rejected the request, ruling that it couldn’t situation a warrant towards a defendant who had not beforehand appeared earlier than it.

The remand order comes greater than two years after Ojukwu was arrested and detained by cops over the identical experiences. He was initially arrested on 1 May 2024 by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, transferred from Lagos to Abuja for investigation below the Cybercrime Act, and launched after spending 10 days in detention.

FIJ has maintained that Ojukwu’s passport stays with the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre, which reportedly retained it over considerations that he would possibly depart the nation.

Ojukwu had earlier alleged that he suffered harsh detention circumstances, together with a extreme bronchial asthma assault that required pressing medical consideration.

Orelope-Adefulire served as Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation between 2003 and 2011, later changing into Deputy Governor from 2011 to 2015. She was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals by former President Buhari in 2016 and was retained within the place by President Tinubu.

The case is anticipated to renew on 1 December 2026 for the listening to of Ojukwu’s bail software.

Click to signup for FREE information updates, newest info and hottest gists on a regular basis

Advertise on NOP NIGERIA to achieve hundreds of our each day customers