Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) says it is exploring all legally permissible means to get justice for Daniel Ojukwu, its journalist that was detained by the police.
In a statement on Friday, Bukky Shonibare, chairperson of FIJ’s board of trustees, announced that it was going to explore all permissible legal means to get justice for the ‘abducted’ reporter.
FIJ in the statement on their X (formerly Twitter) handle noted that “moments like this are a refreshing reminder of the potency of a united public to hold power to account.
Shonibare described Ojukwu’s detention as a “deliberate misuse of state power by the police.”
“We note the significant effect of the media pressure and, more importantly, Thursday’s protests by civic actors in modifying what had been a deliberate misuse of state power by the police,” the statement reads.
“Saddening and primitive as they are, moments like this are a refreshing reminder of the potency of a united public to hold power to account.
“Finally, We are taking advice from our lawyers and will explore all legally permissible means to seek justice for Daniel Ojukwu and prevent a recurrence of such blatant abuse of power and attack on press freedom.”
Managing Partner of Slingstone LP, FIJ’s attorney, Abimbola Ojenike, after the journalist’s release, said Ojukwu’s case was one of the most egregious cases of human rights violation and misuse of the powers of the police against journalists.
“This will not go unchallenged. There’s a significant public interest in Daniel’s human rights enforcement action that goes beyond just this violation. The constitutional right to free speech is dead if journalists can no longer expose the malfeasance in government officials without fear or oppression,” the lawyer said.
Ojukwu, late Friday evening, took to X (formerly Twitter) to appreciate everyone who stood by him, adding, “It has been an overwhelming past few days and it may take a while for me to fully come to terms with all that has happened so far.”
Ojukwu had gone missing and his numbers switched off on May 1 while on an assignment in Lagos State. The next day a missing person reporter was filed in the areas where he was headed but on May 3, a private detective hired by FIJ would track his last active location to an address in the Isheri Olofin area of the state.
Earlier, the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department released the detained journalist on bail.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism reporter was released to two directors in the Federal Civil Service who stood as sureties for his conditional bail.
The directors were mandated to submit two passport photographs of themselves to the FCID, and asked to provide Ojukwu to the police whenever the need arises.
