TheCable

The report on corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system is trending on social media.

Fisayo Soyombo, an undercover journalist,  spent two weeks in detention — five days in a police cell and eight as an inmate of Ikoyi Prison — tracking corruption in the criminal justice system, beginning from the moment of arrest by the police to the point of release from prison.

Nigerians on social media have commended the investigation, with some describing it as a ”great job”.

Below are reactions from Facebook and Twitter.

Mehn, @fisayosoyombo took a very big risk investigating this. Great job I must say.

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION (I): Bribery, bail for sale… Lagos police station where innocent civilians are held and criminals are recycled.
https://t.co/iwFtl8pMdV

— Ogundana Michael Rotimi (@MickeySunny) October 14, 2019

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.@fisayosoyombo is back to proper investigative journalism.

Read his undercover investigation exposing bribe for sale @PoliceNG Station. Actually had to get arrested to get the scoop.

Fantastic effort.

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See the difference? News shouldn't always be "Our sources" "according to" https://t.co/mwE7mXkQkU

— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí (@ogundamisi) October 14, 2019

This was both amazing and depressing to read, and both at the same time.

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Thank you, @fisayosoyombo for doing this.

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION (I): Bribery, bail for sale… Lagos police station where innocent civilians are jailed and criminals are recycled https://t.co/TmtQFrDFfb

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— Emecheta's Buchi, *Uncle Chief (@buchionyegbule) October 14, 2019

Kudos Distinguished. At least you can corroborate the rationale behind our struggle. The criminal justice system is a huge aberration. This explains the gratitude of beneficiaries of timely interventions. A genuine symbol of civil rights is bigger than mere social commentary. https://t.co/CCZFw2A7rb

— SEGA L'éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) October 14, 2019

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"Police is your friend"
"Bail is free"
Nigerian Police is nothing but extortionists and racketeers in uniform

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION (I): Bribery, bail for sale… Lagos police station where innocent civilians are jailed and criminals are recycled https://t.co/b1w9ZNoKxN

— 🇳🇬 Racing Eagle (Lord Varys) (@AlabaOginni) October 14, 2019

You guys need to read this, when I heard @fisayosoyombo was doing this, I panicked and was afraid for his life. He risked his life to file this story, FISAYO is Nigeria’s best investigative Journalist – BEST. A Must read story, Part 1. https://t.co/U4PK1oL6j6

— Mercy (@AbangMercy) October 14, 2019

This is a perfect piece of undercover investigation,what the under cover journalist experienced is an everyday occurrence nationwide,so many people are either in jail or in prison awaiting trial and the prisons are congested…

— Kassandra Ugochukwu (@KassandraUgoch1) October 14, 2019

The boss, @fisayosoyombo, is back with another impressive work. An insightful, revelatory MUST READ undercover investigation published on @thecableng https://t.co/jP22K9rsDB

— Kolapo Olapoju (@Olapojukolapo) October 14, 2019

This is a clear depiction of the rot in Nigerias criminal justice system. Poignant!

Thanks @fisayosoyombo for this.

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION (I): Bribery, bail for sale… Lagos police station where innocent civilians are jailed and criminals are recycled https://t.co/LfYXscicjQ

— Okaka (@_CharlesUcheESQ) October 14, 2019

Wow, well detailed undercover investigation, it is now or never, let's see how the @officialEFCC @MBuhari @NigerianPolice will react. https://t.co/jznTaRoHBn

— Fahad Lawal (@FahadLawal11) October 14, 2019

Amazing work by @fisayosoyombo

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION (I): Bribery, bail for sale… Lagos police station where innocent civilians are jailed and criminals are recycled https://t.co/f7OPDEs2qG

— Habeeb X Kolade (@Habeeb_X) October 14, 2019

So sad to read this… I was detained in a police cell this year and trust me, It was HORRIBLE! The DPO slept with one girl before he let her go.

— Madam AJ (@adunkejoy) October 14, 2019

All these undercover investigation.. pic.twitter.com/mn1njrZOZC

— Busiswa's energyyyyyy (@Meezhay) October 14, 2019

https://twitter.com/saintPa96170886/status/1183635090330529792

This investigation will pass away because it’s not the BBC.

Nigerian Journalists are trying and doing serious Undercover investigation.

Let’s always support them. https://t.co/jWn3UGeKQ6

— Linus (@linusNoni) October 14, 2019

Fix the @PoliceNG, and the singular act resolves many societal ills.
In the undercover investigation below, read how our Police stations are run like a business centre. #ReformPoliceNG https://t.co/N9V2Ty8S3u

— Kuti Malik (@obamalik) October 14, 2019

They do this often. They'd Trump up charges against you then ask for outrageous bail fee.
If you tell them bail is free, they'd throw you back into detention.
They annoying ones are those who charge 200-1k to bring food to people in detention.

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION https://t.co/WnqOeIvflx

— Patriarchy King (@ViktorMS_) October 14, 2019

Great job Fisayo! Thumbs up!

— Ikechi Ugwoeje (@IkechiUgwoeje) October 14, 2019

I appreciate you for this effort. This is what we need in this country. So much rot everywhere. Thanks bro

— NENGI stan🗡🗡🗡🗡 (@chrisezekiel71) October 14, 2019

Wow. You did a good job here but the article is still incomplete as I'm anxious to know what happened when you were taken to court.

— Femi Solomon (@femmillion) October 14, 2019

The first paragraph alone blows you away: he grew dreads, got himself falsely accused so he could get detained by the police and he will see this corruption from within. This is quite something. https://t.co/eDsFk7pk6A

— Mark Amaza (@amasonic) October 14, 2019

Ur story was d 1st tin I read on social media 2day. U did a great job. Especially d video proofs u added 2 d piece. It's unfortunate d road 2 getting it ryt wit d police is 1 long walk we might not c cum tru. Bless up.

— Edema Joshua (@Kooljoo) October 14, 2019

Read through the story and my heart bled for @PoliceNG Because of the rot in the system. Meanwhile these are the people we expect to maintain law and order in our society. We are far from being a normal society.

— Anthony Dibie (@ighotasha) October 14, 2019

When I saw the infographic tweeted by The Cable and saw they collaborated with ICIR, I knew it had to be you. Kudos for your courage and good work. May you walk and never stumble.

— Kenechi Omeke (@kenechi_omeke) October 14, 2019

Good job @fisayosoyombo what a frightening and insidious account of police dysfunction. https://t.co/XhLxYKXKpx

— Dalighieri (@bunmola2010) October 14, 2019

Many years to come, stories will be told of how a certain journalist in Nigeria goes extreme lengths to expose corruption. May your days be long, sir @fisayosoyombo https://t.co/jwm40OB8RL

— Chinedu Asadu (@chinedu_asadu) October 14, 2019

Nigerian journalists did this, it's not in top 10 of what's talked about today, many don't even know….if it was BBC that did this….

Truth is, our society isn't as receptive as it should be https://t.co/pvP6JIjEth

— ope (@responficient11) October 14, 2019

"Nigerian Journalists don't do investigative journalism"

THIS IS ANOTHER STORY OOO, ALSO BY A NIGERIAN JOURNALIST…. https://t.co/DpXSuH30dc

— Taöfeek T. Gawat 🇳🇬 (@tfk_gawat) October 14, 2019

Thanks to these investigative journalist that are unraveling the menace that had plagued us as a people. We are getting to that place where we are going to demand Nigeria work as it should.. This is highly commendable…

— Flowing Lava🇳🇬 (@empopson) October 14, 2019

This is what we want to see investigative Journalism thank you @fisayosoyombo my man of the year thank you so much we need more people not just journalist but every Nigerians

— Babatunde Micheal (@Olamykey) October 14, 2019

I admire the journalist that exposed what really goes on in Nigerian police stations, corruption and all. What’s surprising is that with the proliferation of private newspapers, radio and television stations, none see fit to tackle these type of issues

— Samuel Williams (@FolarinWill) October 14, 2019

Very incredible and interesting.
Many innocent lives have gone. These people brutal in their True colour.

— ♥Bamidele Sodeke♥. 💒✝🛐🌏 (@BamideleSodeke) October 14, 2019

Wow! this actually makes journalism interesting well done. let hold them accountable for whatever they are doing to us and say #No to curtail #Bribery and #Corruption in our security system.

— حىثن (@YERONEI) October 14, 2019

Very interesting read! Nice work by the journalist. Can't believe he endured all that 😕

— Dubem Enaruna (@Baiki) October 14, 2019

This man risk his life to expose the rot in our criminal justice system. Only a man who has human sympathy at heart can do this. This man is my best journalist of a decade.

— Blue-Blooded Fulani (@binyaminu_24744) October 14, 2019

I remember just few weeks ago someone asked me to follow him let visit someone in the police cell I never like anything Nig police so he begged me very well and I had to follow him, on getting there he asked to see the person come see bad characters from this people he paid 2k

— ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs ɴᴇʟsᴏɴ (@ThomasN25651554) October 14, 2019

This is what our journalists should do but again I think,Will strong and power men allow them? #freejaafarjaafar https://t.co/Scswh6J2YC

— Nwachukwu anthony (@tonyrealton) October 14, 2019