A coalition of 17 civil society organisations (CSOs) and media groups has condemned the remand of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing his continued detention as a dangerous attack on press freedom and democratic accountability.
The organisations include Accountability Lab Nigeria, BudgIT, Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dataphyte Foundation, Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab), Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Gatefield Impact Foundation, Global Rights, Hope Behind Bars Africa, International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria, Techsocietal, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and WikkiTimes.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the groups demanded Ojukwu’s immediate release and called for an end to the use of criminal prosecution against journalists carrying out legitimate investigative reporting.
The coalition expressed concern over the Federal High Court’s decision to remand Ojukwu until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is expected to be heard, despite his plea of not guilty to all 12 charges brought against him.
Groups Describe Ojukwu’s Remand as Attack on Press Freedom
The coalition said the court’s decision to remand the journalist was particularly concerning because his defence counsel had informed the court that he had complied with the conditions of the administrative bail previously granted to him by the police.
According to the organisations, the defence had requested that Ojukwu be allowed to continue enjoying the existing bail pending the hearing of his application, but the court declined the request and ordered his detention at the correctional centre.
They described the development as a disturbing escalation in the use of criminal prosecution and restrictive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act against journalists performing their responsibility of holding public officials accountable.
The groups warned that the continued prosecution and detention of Ojukwu could send a chilling message to journalists, newsrooms and other individuals investigating and reporting issues of public interest.
They maintained that the implications of his remand extend beyond Ojukwu and FIJ, arguing that detaining journalists over reports examining public expenditure could discourage whistleblowing, weaken public accountability and create an atmosphere of fear within the media industry.
FIJ Reports Questioned N147m, N47.5m Classroom Contracts
The organisations explained that the charges against Ojukwu arose from investigative reports published by FIJ in 2023 and 2024 concerning the expenditure of public funds by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), then headed by Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
One of the reports examined a payment of N147.1 million made by the office to a restaurant for classroom construction projects in Lagos, raising questions about the transaction and the nature of the contract.
Another investigation questioned a N47.5 million classroom construction contract awarded to Tru3 Nigeria Limited, including concerns about the contractor’s status, its alleged failure to mobilise to the project site and the payment for what FIJ described as a vague block of classrooms.
The other reports examined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s forfeiture of N241 million linked to the SDGs office and concerns over solar panels reportedly installed at classroom blocks in the district of former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, which FIJ reported had stopped working one week after installation.
The coalition maintained that the issues raised in the reports were legitimate matters of public interest that required transparency and accountability from public officials entrusted with public resources.
It argued that public institutions and officials must be prepared to explain decisions concerning government expenditure rather than resorting to criminal prosecution against journalists who investigate such transactions.
Groups Cite Constitutional Guarantees, Warn Against Criminalising Journalism
The organisations cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which assigns the mass media the responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people, noting that the Constitution also guarantees freedom of expression and the press under Section 39.
They further referenced Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protect freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information.
According to the coalition, Nigeria has an obligation to respect and protect these rights by ensuring that journalists can carry out their professional responsibilities without intimidation, arbitrary detention or reprisals.
The groups argued that where public officials consider an investigative report inaccurate or defamatory, the law provides legitimate avenues for redress that must be pursued in accordance with constitutional guarantees and the country’s human rights obligations.
They warned that the criminal justice system must not become an instrument for silencing scrutiny, discouraging whistleblowing or shielding public officials from accountability.
The coalition also recalled that Ojukwu had previously been detained for 10 days in May 2024 over reports concerning the same office before he was released following public outcry and pressure from human rights advocates.
It described the renewed prosecution and latest remand as raising serious concerns about a pattern of harassment capable of undermining press freedom and discouraging investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Groups Make Five Demands Over Ojukwu’s Detention
The organisations called for Ojukwu’s immediate release and urged the authorities to ensure that he is granted bail pending the determination of the charges against him.
They also demanded an end to the use of criminal prosecution to intimidate journalists over legitimate investigative reporting, particularly publications concerning public expenditure, alleged corruption and the conduct of public officials.
The coalition further called on the authorities to end what it described as the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions to suppress freedom of expression, independent journalism and public-interest reporting.
The groups also demanded adequate protection for journalists, including Ojukwu, against harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and reprisals arising from their professional responsibilities.
They urged the authorities to guarantee transparency and accountability in public expenditure by addressing the questions raised in FIJ’s investigations through the disclosure of relevant records, independent scrutiny and appropriate accountability mechanisms.
The organisations maintained that press freedom was a fundamental democratic guarantee rather than a privilege granted at the discretion of public officials, insisting that Ojukwu must not be punished for carrying out his journalistic duties.
They added that the Nigerian government could not credibly profess commitment to transparency, anti-corruption and democratic governance while journalists investigating public expenditure continued to face detention and criminal prosecution.
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