The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), has expressed concerned over the reported arrest and continued detention of Mr Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), for alleged violation of the 2015 Cybercrime act by the Nigeria Police.
Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director, CJID expressed the group’s concern in a statement on Saturday.
A report by the FIJ, said Mr Ojukwu was abducted by the police on Wednesday, May 1, and his phones have since been switched off and whereabouts undisclosed.
His family only got wind of his whereabouts on Friday, May 3 2024, that he is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.
In a phone conversation with CJID, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that Mr Ojukwu was arrested by men of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigerian Police and is detained at the facilities of the Lagos state Police Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
“CWPPF condemns the arrest and continued detention of Mr. Ojukwu.
“Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists remain unacceptable as it negates the basic principles of democracy.
“The arrest and continued detention of Mr Ojukwu is not only a violation of his fundamental human rights but also an assault on press freedom.
“We call on the Nigerian police to immediately release Mr. Daniel Ojukwu and follow legal procedures to engage him.
“We also call on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the Cybercrime act 2015 ceases to be a weapon used in the harassment and arbitrarily detainment of journalists and media workers.
“We make this call based on past instances where the Cybercrime law has been used to criminalise journalism, harass and detain them.
“We reiterate that such intimidation constitutes an attack on press freedom and the right of the people to information.
“The Nigerian Police in this instance must therefore avoid using the Cybercrimes Act to suppress investigative journalism aimed at entrenching a transparent and accountable system.
“Journalism plays a critical role in democracy, and such actions are bound to undermine its core principles,” the coalition said in the statement.
The CWPPF is a group of media and civil society organisations committed to upholding democracy and good governance by protecting the ethos of whistleblowing, freedom of expression and press freedom
CWPPF members are ; Premium Times, The Cable ,Daily Trust Newspaper, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Civic Media Lab, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), International Press Centre (IPC), International Press Institute (IPI), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Paradigm Initiative
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and HEDA Resources Centre.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
