Lawyer: FIJ journalist in police custody requires medical attention

Ridwan Oke, a human rights lawyer, says Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with The Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who is currently in police custody, requires medical attention for his health condition.

Ojukwu was “abducted” on May 1 by police operatives in Lagos and was taken to the state criminal investigation department (CID) in Panti.

The family of the journalist and FIJ management were not aware of his whereabouts until 48 hours after he was declared missing.

The journalist was not allowed to communicate with his family members and friends as his mobile gadgets have been seized.

Providing an update on the case on Saturday via X, the lawyer said he visited Ojukwu at the state CID in Panti.

Oke said the police officers claimed to have a remand warrant against the journalist but declined to show it.

The lawyer said he was informed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja is in charge of the case.

Oke said the police would be held accountable if anything happened to Ojukwu in their custody.

He said the detained journalist has not been granted access to medications despite having certain health conditions.

“Daniel, up till this moment, hasn’t been officially shown the petition against him nor has the police communicated who the complainant is to him,” the lawyer wrote.

“The unit involved is said to be the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NCC) from Abuja which means the offence being alleged is a bailable offence but he has not been offered bail and they haven’t presented him in court as enshrined in our laws.

“The officers here in Panti said they can’t help as it is not their case. No one is taking responsibility.

“Now, I have tried to reach @Princemoye1 (force spokesperson) but he’s not picking nor returning.

“No one has so far offered any meaningful explanation and a citizen is being detained unnecessarily for a bailable offence.

“You have to free Daniel now. He has certain health conditions which need medical attention.

“If anything happens to him, the Nigerian Police Force @PoliceNG should be held accountable.”