TheCable

Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has regained his freedom.

Ojukwu had been detained by the police since May 1 after he was “abducted” by officers in Lagos.

The family of the journalist and FIJ management were unaware of his whereabouts until 48 hours after he was declared missing.

The journalist could not communicate with his family and friends as his mobile gadgets were seized.

Subsequently, the journalist’s family received a report that Ojukwu was detained at the state criminal investigation department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, for allegedly violating the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

On May 5, the journalist was moved from Lagos to the national cybercrime centre in Abuja.

Afterwards, it was disclosed that Ojukwu was detained over a story on contract procurement by the office of the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

Several CSOs and well-meaning Nigerians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had called on the police to release the journalist.

On Wednesday, Bukky Shonibare, chairperson of FIJ’s board of trustees, told TheCable that police gave stringent bail conditions for the release of the Journalist.

On Thursday, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) organised a protest at the force headquarters in Abuja, demanding Ojukwu’s release.

The CSOs are Gatefield, Invictus Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Accountability Lab, Global Rights, Dataphyte, Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), among others.