admin
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the remand of Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
The journalist was arraigned in the court of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Tuesday November 10, 2026 over a story exposing alleged contract fraud in the office of late President Muhammadu Buhari’s adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
The judge declined ruling on a bail request by Ojukwu’s counsel, preferring he spends 21 days in prison before ruling on the bail on December 1, 2026.
RULAAC in a statement on Friday November 13, 2026 and signed by Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma demanded for the immediate release of Ojukwu.
The statement reads in part, “Ojukwu is presumed innocent. Keeping him in custody for three weeks before his bail application risks turning pretrial detention into punishment. If Ms Orelope-Adefulire believes the reports are inaccurate, she can publicly address the findings. If she believes they defamed her, she can seek redress through the civil courts. The public deserves answers to the questions raised about how its money was spent.”
RULAAC calls on the Federal High Court to bring forward the bail hearing and grant Ojukwu bail.
“We also urge the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently review the prosecution and take steps to discontinue the charges. The Nigeria Police Force must stop using cyberstalking and criminal defamation charges to intimidate journalists and others who scrutinise the conduct of public officials,” it said.
According to the statement, journalists, human rights defenders, bloggers and active citizens all have a stake in this case.
“When a reporter is detained for asking how public money was spent, others may think twice before investigating abuse, documenting violations or speaking out. The public loses access to information it needs to hold those in power accountable. An injury to one is an injury to all.”
