FIJ Confirms Story and Persons Behind Daniel Ojukwu’s Abduction

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ has confirmed the story behind the abduction of its journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, who was abducted on Wednesday, 1st May 2024 by the Lagos plocice and subsequenly transported the Threat Response Unit of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja on Sunday.

Ojukwu had written a report that exposed Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment and Bola Tinubu’s reappointment of Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as the Head of Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs).

The report solely exposed how Orelope-Adefulire, through her office, paid N47.5 million for a contract at the request of Ogun State’s former Governor, now Senator representing Ogun Central district, Ibikunle Amosun.

Following the exposure brought on the irregularities in her office, the Nigerian Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the journalist has a case to answer over alleged violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act, 2015.

On November 7, 2023, FIJ’s journalist, Ojukwu, reported a second publication that unveiled how Orelope-Adefulire’s office paid N147 million to Enseno Global Ventures Ltd. for the construction of one skill acquisition centre (type A) with a pile-on-the-raft foundation and one block of six classrooms at Ajeromi Primary School, Lagos state.

Findings revealed that the money was paid to the company on May 15, 2023, 13 days before the end of Buhari’s administration.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, a human rights lawyer, Ridwan Oke, confirmed the relocation of Ojukwu from Lagos to the Abuja Cybercrime Unit for questioning.

According to FIJ, Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former national legal adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was behind the petition that led to the abduction of Ojukwu by the Nigerian Police Force.

Banire is also a founder of United Action for Change, a human rights advocacy group whose core mandate is to “actively engage and promote the rule of law and citizens’ rights.”

While many civil society organisations, journalists, and Nigerians urged the government to free Daniel Ojukwu, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, spoke on his arrest, saying, “It’s being resolved.”

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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