Police Confuse Over FIJ’s Journalist, Daniel Ojukwu Arrest and Warrant

 

Daniel Ojukwu, one of the vibrant Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) journalists, was just released at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, after unlawfully keeping him in detention for 10 days without any charge.

 

His release came after civic groups and journalists globally mounted pressure on the Nigerian Police, questioning the rationale of his arrest in the first place.

 

Bukky Shonibare, the FIJ’s Chairman, Board of Trustees and Fisayo Soyombo, its founder/Editor-in-chief described Ojukwu’s arrest as “abduction.”

But the crux of the matter is after the release of Ojukwu, the Nigerian Police seem seriously confused as it cannot get its justification story straight on why the journalist was arrested.

 

According to the foundation, Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday, May 1. His phone numbers were switched off while his whereabouts were unknown to “colleagues, family and friends.”

 

It was after over 48 hours, after FIJ employed private investigators and lodged a missing person complaint, learnt that Ojukwu had been detained by the Nigerian Police for an investigative report by him revealing corruption implicating a presidency official, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was tasked with achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The presidency staffer allegedly ordered the transfer of more than N147.1 million of government funds to a restaurant in the capital, at the twilight of the former administration. The funds had been budgeted for the creation of a school building and learning center but, according to Ojukwu’s report, the facilities were never created. Orelope-Adefulire has not responded to the allegations.

 

The Nigerian Police Force, however, drooped into confusion through its Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. The spokesperson, had asserted shortly after the release of Ojukwu on Friday that the journalist, under a controversial law Cybercrime Act, “was lawfully apprehended and detained pursuant to a valid remand warrant issued by a competent court of justice on May 2nd 2024.”

 

This statement brings further ground for disquiet. This is because Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday May 1 and was kept in detention for more than 48 hours, before its organisation, FIJ learnt that he was with the police.

 

The police completely contradict itself, by saying a warrant was issued on May 2, 2024 which was last Thursday to arrest Ojukwu. For how can a warrant be issued after an arrest has been made on May 1?  The statement leaves an insight to pinpoint that on Ojukwu’s matter, the police are completely confused.

 

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