The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), following his remand in prison custody over reports examining public expenditure.
The union also demanded the withdrawal of all charges instituted against Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, describing the journalist’s continued detention and prosecution as a source of serious concern.
In a statement signed by its National President, Alhassan Yahaya, the NUJ condemned the development and called on the authorities to respect press freedom and protect journalists carrying out their professional responsibilities.
Ojukwu was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, on 12 counts bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.
Following the proceedings, the court ordered his remand in prison custody until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is scheduled to be heard.
The charges are linked to investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024 concerning expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Aligning itself with local and international human rights organisations, the NUJ insisted that investigative journalism should not attract criminal punishment simply because it scrutinises government spending.
“Journalism is a constitutionally mandated public service, not a crime,” Yahaya stated.
“Deploying the apparatus of the criminal justice system to punish reporters for scrutinizing public spending undermines the very foundations of Nigeria’s democracy,” it stated.
The union also warned the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies against what it described as the repeated misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation laws to intimidate, abduct and silence journalists.
It recalled that Ojukwu had previously spent 10 days in police custody following his abduction by police operatives in May 2024 over the same investigative reports.
Yahaya further reminded prosecuting authorities and security agencies that press freedom and the media’s responsibility to hold government accountable were guaranteed under Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under regional and international human rights instruments, including Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“Subjecting investigative journalists to prolonged pre-trial detention over stories of overriding public interest creates a chilling climate of fear across the media landscape,” the NUJ president warned.
Reaffirming its support for Ojukwu, FIJ management and other journalists committed to transparency and accountability, the union urged the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police and the judiciary to ensure that the rule of law was upheld.
“We urge authorities to respect press freedom and ensure that media professionals can discharge their constitutional duties without fear of arrest, detention, or persecution,” the statement concluded.
