SERAP requires launch of detained FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project,SERAP, has known as on President Bola Tinubu to intervene within the detention of Foundation for Investigative Journalism reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who’s being held on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

The organisation desires Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to make sure the journalist’s rapid launch and cease using legal defamation and cyberstalking legal guidelines in opposition to journalists investigating alleged corruption.

Ojukwu was remanded on Tuesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja following his arraignment on 12 fees bordering on alleged cyberstalking and legal defamation.

He pleaded not responsible to the costs, however the court docket ordered his remand pending the listening to of his bail utility, which was adjourned till December 1, 2026.

The case is linked to investigative experiences printed by FIJ in 2023 and January 2024, which examined alleged spending by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, OSSAP-SDGs.

The experiences questioned funds of N147.1 million and N47.5 million for classroom tasks and raised issues that photo voltaic panels put in at a few of the services reportedly stopped working shortly after they have been accomplished.

SERAP additionally desires the federal government to discontinue what it described because the harassment and prosecution of Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, over the publications.

The organisation stated the problems raised within the experiences concern using public cash and needs to be addressed by transparency and accountability quite than legal proceedings in opposition to journalists.

It argued that authorities businesses ought to make related paperwork out there, clarify questionable expenditure and examine any suspected misconduct.

SERAP additional warned that preserving Ojukwu behind bars might discourage different journalists from reporting on corruption and holding public establishments accountable.

It recalled that Ojukwu spent 10 days in detention in May 2024 over his reporting on allegations involving the identical public official.

The organisation maintained that journalists are protected by provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It particularly cited Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, which recognise the media’s duty to carry authorities accountable and shield freedom of expression.