Court Remands FIJ Reporter Daniel Ojukwu in Kuje Over Cyberstalking Former Presidential Aide
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday remanded Daniel Ojukwu, a Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reporter, in prison over a series of stories he authored in 2023 about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the senior special assistant on sustainable development goals (SSAP-SDGs) to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ordered Mr Ojukwu remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre until 1 December, implying the journalist will be in detention for the next 21 days.
Ms Abdulmalik issued the order in a 12-count cyberstalking case brought by the Nigerian police against Mr Ojukwu and the FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo.
Mr Ojukwu, who had been detained after honouring a police invitation, was produced in court on Tuesday to face the charges dated 19 December 2024.
The prosecutors accused Mr Ojukwu of defaming Mrs Orelope-Adefulire with his report. They also alleged that the report put the official “in fear of death”.
Mr Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts read to him during the proceedings.
The prosecution, led by Kunle Lawal, informed the court that Mr Soyombo was at large and applied for a bench warrant for his arrest. The judge denied the application, stating that Mr. Soyombo had not yet been brought before her to enable her to issue a bench warrant compelling his attendance.
However, after Mr Ojukwu entered his plea of not guilty, the prosecution requested that he be remanded in prison,
Opposing the call for Mr Ojukwu’s remand, defence lawyer Atanda Kayode drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
But the judge said the bail application, filed only on Monday, was not ripe for hearing.
The defence lawyer then requested that Mr Ojukwu be allowed to continue enjoying the prior administrative bail granted him by the police, the terms of which he had never violated.
The judge rejected the request. She said the defendant filed his bail application only on Monday, even though the charges had been served on him long ago.
The judge adjourned the bail application hearing until December and ordered Mr Ojukwu remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre till then.
Ojukwu’s remand comes more than two years after police officers abducted and detained him for 10 days over the same reports. On May 1, 2024, officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) abducted him at Isheri-Olofin, Lagos, following days of surveillance.
He was initially taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Lagos, before being transferred to Abuja four days later.
In Abuja, he was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Area 10, Abuja, over allegations of defaming Orelope-Adefulire.
He regained his freedom on May 10, 2024, following public outcry and pressure from human rights advocates. The police subsequently withheld his international passport, citing concerns that he might flee the country.
He was also required to appear before the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre several times over the case.
