Nigerian Police Force Breaks Silence On Journalist Daniel Ojukwu Detention; Relocates Him

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) broke silence on journalist Daniel Ojukwu's detention and revealed that he was relocated Sunday to the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.

Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) was detained last week and kept incommunicado at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos. The reporter was moved later. He confirmed Sunday morning that he is currently in Abuja, Premium Times reported.

Nigerian Police Force's spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi said that Ojukwu was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police as per a petition written against him. The journalist is accused of violating the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015.

"It's a case of violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other extant laws of the land. He has a case to answer. This was confirmed to me on Sunday by the CP and head of the center," Adejobi added.

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) requested the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to immediately release Ojukwu, or he will be blacklisted.

"IPI NIGERIA strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of Mr Ojukwu," IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser Tobi Soniyi said in a joint statement.

IPI Nigeria stated that another journalist, Segun Olatunji, was also arrested by the police, noting that Ojukwu recently called out this pattern of President Tinubu-led administration for not giving enough freedom of the press.

"With the two incidents cited above, a pattern has emerged that points to the fact that the administration of President Bola Tinubu does not only condone repression of freedom of the press but also encourage it, in contradiction of promises made during the president's inaugural speech that his administration would uphold fundamental human rights," the joint statement mentioned.

"IPI Nigeria calls on President Tinubu to sanction the Inspector General of the Police, having failed to lead by example. Nobody is above the law," it added.

IPI Nigeria's statement called Egbetokun "an enemy of the press and journalists," noting that his "inclusion on the list carries serious consequences beyond the shores of Nigeria."

Nigeria ranked 123 out of 180 countries in the global press freedom report last year.