Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to immediately and unconditionally release investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu, raising concerns over his continued detention and its implications for press freedom in the country.
The organisation’s demand follows a Federal High Court order remanding Ojukwu at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja for 21 days over cyberstalking allegations linked to his investigative reports.
Ojukwu, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge arising from reports concerning alleged corruption involving President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
The court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter until December 1, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application.
Reacting to the development, Amnesty International warned that the journalist’s continued detention could discourage investigative reporting and create fear among media professionals who scrutinise public officials and expose alleged wrongdoing.
The rights organisation also recalled Ojukwu’s arrest by police officers in May 2024 over his journalistic activities, describing the latest development as a troubling concern for freedom of expression and media independence.
Beyond Ojukwu’s case, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to stop the alleged harassment and intimidation of investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, insisting that journalists must be allowed to investigate corruption, human rights violations and abuse of power without fear of retaliation.
The organisation further urged the government to uphold due process, fair-trial guarantees and international human rights standards, warning against the use of criminal laws and judicial procedures to silence journalists and government critics.
Amnesty International maintained that a free press remains essential to democratic accountability, stressing that journalists should be protected rather than punished for performing their professional responsibilities.