African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the detention of Foundation for Investigative Journalism reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, describing the decision to keep him in custody for 21 days before hearing his bail application as unacceptable.
Sowore called for Ojukwu’s immediate release following a Federal High Court order remanding the journalist at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja until December 1, 2026.
The activist made his position known in a statement published on his X account on Tuesday, questioning why a journalist who had not jumped bail should remain in detention while awaiting a hearing.
“Remanding a journalist who is not on the run for 21 days merely to hear a bail application is unacceptable and wicked!” Sowore wrote.
Ojukwu was remanded after pleading not guilty to a 12-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences, including cyberstalking.
The case also involves FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, while former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is listed as the complainant.
The prosecution alleged that the journalists conspired to commit cyberstalking through reports published on the FIJ website concerning former presidential aide, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
One of the charges relates to an investigative report published on November 7, 2023, which questioned the payment of N17.1m to a restaurant for classroom construction in Lagos.
Following Ojukwu’s plea, his lawyer asked the court to allow him to continue enjoying the administrative bail previously granted by the police, arguing that he had not violated its conditions.
However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request and adjourned the bail application until December 1.
The prosecution also requested a bench warrant against Soyombo, who was absent from court, but the judge rejected the application, noting that he had not previously been brought before her.
Sowore’s intervention adds to growing criticism of the journalist’s detention, following a similar call by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, which urged President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to intervene.
