By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu, who is being detained following his arraignment on charges of alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.
Ojukwu, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 10, 2026, on 12 counts and remanded in prison custody until December 1 for a bail hearing.
The charges reportedly stem from investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024 concerning public expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National President, Alhassan Yahya, the NUJ also called for the withdrawal of all charges against Ojukwu and FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo.
The Union condemned what it described as the recurring use of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation laws by security agencies to intimidate journalists and suppress investigative reporting.
It recalled that Ojukwu had previously been abducted by police operatives in May 2024 and detained for 10 days over the same investigative reports.
The NUJ argued that subjecting journalists to prolonged pre-trial detention for reporting on matters of public interest undermines democratic accountability and creates an atmosphere of fear within the media industry.
Citing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Union maintained that freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental rights that must be protected.
It urged the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police and the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and ensure that journalists can perform their constitutional responsibilities without fear of arrest, detention or persecution.
The NUJ reaffirmed its solidarity with Ojukwu, FIJ management and other journalists committed to investigative reporting, transparency and accountability.
