Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been detained by the police following his report on contract procurement by the office of the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Ojukwu was taken into custody on May 1 in Lagos and has been held since then. His family and FIJ management were initially unaware of his whereabouts until 48 hours later when they discovered he was in police custody.
During his detention, Ojukwu was unable to communicate with his family or friends as his mobile devices were seized.
On Sunday, it was revealed that Ojukwu had been transferred from Lagos to Abuja. The police have cited alleged violations of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 as the reason for his arrest.
Bukky Shonibare, chairperson of FIJ’s board of trustees, confirmed that Ojukwu’s detention is related to his investigative report on contract procurement by OSSAP-SDGs, which is headed by Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
Orelope-Adefulire, a former Lagos deputy governor, oversees the office responsible for coordinating and supervising Nigeria’s sustainable development goals programs.
Ojukwu’s report, published on November 7, 2023, highlighted questionable payments made by the OSSAP-SDGs office, including a payment of N147 million to Enseno Global Ventures Ltd, described as an Abuja-based restaurant, for construction projects shortly before the end of Buhari’s tenure.
The arrest of Ojukwu has raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists reporting on government activities in Nigeria.
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