The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Foundation for Investigative Journalism correspondent Daniel Ojukwu at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the remand on November 10, after Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to 12 criminal counts.
The charges include alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation linked to investigative reports published between 2023 and 2024.
The case was filed by the Nigeria Police Force and also names FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo as a defendant.
The court adjourned Ojukwu’s bail application hearing until December 1, 2026, meaning he remains in custody pending that hearing.
The charges are allegations, and Ojukwu’s not-guilty plea means the case remains before the court.
Ojukwu: Reports examined public project spending
The prosecution’s case concerns articles written by Ojukwu about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who served as Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The reports questioned spending by her office on classroom construction and skills acquisition projects in Lagos.
One investigation examined payments of approximately ₦147 million connected with classroom projects at Ajeromi Primary School.
Other articles questioned a separate contract and whether solar panels installed at school buildings were functioning.
The police charge sheet reportedly cites several FIJ publications, including reports published in November and December 2023 and January 2024.
FIJ had reported that a visit to Ajeromi Primary School found no visible evidence of the reported construction work.
The accusations concern the publications’ content and alleged impact; the court has not ruled on their truth or legality.
Court declines request to continue administrative bail on Ojukwu
At the hearing, the prosecution sought Ojukwu’s remand after the charges were read to him.
His lawyer asked the court to allow him to continue on the administrative bail previously granted by police.
The judge reportedly declined that request, saying Ojukwu’s fresh bail application, filed shortly before the hearing, was not ready for consideration.
The defence also told the court that Ojukwu had complied with the conditions of his earlier police bail.
The court ordered him held at Kuje until the scheduled bail hearing on December 1.
The remand order does not determine whether the journalist is guilty of any charge.
The court is expected to consider the bail application at the next hearing, while the prosecution proceeds with its case.
Case revives scrutiny of journalist’s 2024 detention
The arraignment renews attention to Ojukwu’s earlier detention over reporting concerning Orelope-Adefulire’s office.
Police arrested Ojukwu in May 2024, and he was released after ten days following public criticism and pressure from rights advocates.
The current prosecution formally brings the dispute over the FIJ reports before the Federal High Court.
Rights groups have again called for his release, arguing that criminal proceedings over investigative journalism could affect reporting on public spending.
Those calls are separate from the court’s task of considering the charges and Ojukwu’s pending bail application.
The case remains ongoing, and no verdict has been delivered.
