Sixteen media and civil society organisations have condemned the prosecution and remand of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu over reports questioning public expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
The organisations said prosecuting journalists for investigating public spending could discourage scrutiny of government institutions, weaken democratic accountability and undermine press freedom.
Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, by the Federal High Court until 1 December 2026, when his bail application is scheduled for hearing.
He is facing a 12-count charge relating to investigative reports published in 2023 and 2024. The reports raised questions about payments totalling N147.1 million and N47.5 million for classroom construction projects, and about the functionality of solar installations reportedly completed under the projects.
In a joint statement, the organisations said Ojukwu had pleaded not guilty to all charges, while his counsel informed the court that he had complied with the conditions of his earlier administrative bail.
They expressed concern that the court declined his request to remain on existing bail pending the hearing of his application.
In the statement signed by Accountability Lab Nigeria, BudgIT, Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Dataphyte Foundation, Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab, Digital Rights
Lawyers Initiative, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Gatefield Impact Foundation, Global Rights, Hope Behind Bars Africa, International Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions Nigeria, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and WikkiTimes, the coalition described the prosecution as a disturbing escalation in the use of criminal proceedings and cybercrime provisions against journalists performing legitimate public accountability functions.
“The criminal justice system must never become an instrument for silencing scrutiny, discouraging whistleblowing or shielding public officials from accountability,” the statement said.
The organisations argued that public officials and institutions entrusted with public resources must be prepared to explain their spending decisions, insisting that the issues raised in the FIJ investigations were legitimate matters of public interest.
They also recalled that Ojukwu was arrested and detained for 10 days in May 2024 over the same reporting and was later released following public outcry.
According to them, his renewed prosecution could create a climate of fear among journalists, newsrooms, whistleblowers and citizens seeking accountability from public institutions.
Demand Release, End to Criminal Prosecution
The organisations demanded Ojukwu’s immediate release and bail pending the determination of the charges.
They also called for an end to criminal prosecution as a means of intimidating journalists reporting on public expenditure, alleged corruption and the conduct of public officials.
Other demands include ending the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions against independent journalism, protecting journalists from harassment and arbitrary arrest, and investigating the issues raised in the FIJ reports.
They urged the government to disclose relevant expenditure records and subject the projects to independent scrutiny and appropriate accountability mechanisms.
The coalition cited Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which respectively mandate the mass media to uphold government accountability and guarantee freedom of expression.
It also referenced Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protect freedom of expression and access to information.
The organisations maintained that when public officials consider investigative reports to be inaccurate or defamatory, they should seek lawful redress without resorting to intimidation or disproportionate criminal prosecution.
“Press freedom is not a privilege granted at the discretion of public officials but a fundamental democratic guarantee,” the statement said.
It added that the government could not credibly profess commitment to transparency, anti-corruption and democratic governance while journalists investigating public expenditure faced detention and prosecution.
“Mr Ojukwu must not be punished for doing his job. His immediate release is imperative, and the criminalisation of investigative journalism must end,” it said.