Court Remands FIJ Journalist Daniel Ojukwu, Reviving Press Freedom Fears in Nigeria ‎

A Nigerian investigative journalist is in prison over stories he published nearly three years ago. On Tuesday 10 November, the Federal High Court in Abuja remanded Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) over a series of 2023 stories about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered him held at the Kuje Correctional Centre until 1 December, about 21 days.

The charges
Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of cyberstalking and criminal defamation. The charge is dated 19 December 2024. The stories scrutinised spending by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs, including a payment reported as ₦147 million (about $109,000) to an Abuja-based restaurant company for classrooms and a skills centre at a Lagos primary school. Ojukwu reported finding no evidence of the construction and questioned the company's track record.

The court's decision
The court declined the request for bail, saying the application was not yet ripe for hearing, and adjourned it to 1 December. The prosecution had asked for remand after the not-guilty plea.

A familiar case
This is not Ojukwu's first brush with the law over this work. In May 2024 the police released him on surety, saying he would be arraigned before a Federal High Court. Critics argue that Nigeria's cybercrime law is being used to criminalise reporting on public funds.

The reaction
Amnesty International Nigeria called on the Federal Government to free him.

SERAP described the detention as a threat to journalists who report on alleged corruption and the management of public funds.

Opposition figure Omoyele Sowore criticised what he called a growing practice of prolonged detention while defendants await bail hearings.

The Committee to Protect Journalists was also reported to have raised concern, and the Citizens' Gavel Foundation and the Foundation for Digital Justice condemned the remand.

Why it matters: Remanding a journalist before any bail hearing sends a chilling signal to reporters covering public spending, with 2027 elections approaching.

The law's defenders say the cyberstalking and defamation provisions protect citizens, and the court will decide on the evidence.

Journalists can still be held accountable for inaccurate reporting, but the question is whether prison before trial is proportionate.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880
References
Premium Times, "Court remands FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu over 2023 reports about presidential aide" (via allAfrica): https://allafrica.com/stories/202611110220.html

allAfrica, "Amnesty International, SERAP demand release of detained FIJ journalist Ojukwu": https://allafrica.com/stories/202611120086.html

FrontPageAfrica, "Nigerian Court Remands Investigative Journalist Daniel Ojukwu on Cybercrime Charges": https://frontpageafricaonline.com/nigerian-court-remands-investigative-journalist-daniel-ojukwu-on-cybercrime-charges/

AP via WRAL, "Nigerian court orders journalist kept in custody over report": https://www.wral.com/news/ap/1df39-nigerian-court-orders-journalist-kept-in-custody-over-report-renewing-concerns-over-media-freedom/

Sahara Reporters, "Citizens' Gavel demands immediate release" (11 Nov 2026): https://saharareporters.com/2026/11/11/citizens-gavel-demands-immediate-release-fij-journalist-daniel-ojukwu-seeks-reforms

Sahara Reporters, "Tinubu Government faces growing backlash": https://saharareporters.com/2026/11/11/tinubu-government-faces-growing-backlash-over-prison-remand-journalist-daniel-ojukwu

Bizwatch Nigeria, "Sowore demands release": https://bizwatchnigeria.ng/sowore-demands-release-of-detained-fij-journalist-ojukwu/

ICIR, "FIJ reporter Daniel Ojukwu has case to answer in court – Police" (May 2024): https://www.icirnigeria.org/fij-reporter-daniel-ojukwu-has-case-to-answer-in-court-police/