The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) said that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has no hand in the case of a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu.
Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this disclosure on Thursday while giving an update on the detention of Ojukwu.
“The IGP has no hand in this case. The team handling FIJ’s case is headed by a commissioner of police, who is competent and ready to do justice all the time,” Adejobi said on X.
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“The Police Force has not erred in this case at all. The law must take its course. If Daniel Ojukwu produces a substantive surety today, he will be released on bail.”
FIJ in an earlier report said that Ojukwu was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of IGP Egbetokun.
According to the report, the journalist was initially detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos state.
He is currently being held at the “Threat Response Unit of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre”, Abuja.
Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar last Sunday hit out at President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the arrest of journalists.
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Atiku in a post on his X handle also called for the release of Ojukwu.
“Two days ago, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, a minister of this administration boasted that no journalist had been incarcerated by this administration,” Atiku wrote.
“That was before the detention of Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
“The arrest of Ojukwu may not be unconnected with the groundbreaking investigative works of FIJ that has exposed alleged high profile smuggler with links to top officials of this administration.”
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He said it is not only irresponsible to arrest journalists for exposing the ills that abound in this government, it is also a breach of their constitutionally guaranteed Free Press.
“That the arrest of Ojukwu came barely 48 hours after the observance of the World Press Freedom Day, speaks volumes of the character of the Tinubu administration to freedom of the press,” Atiku added.
The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential election also said the least that is expected of the relevant authorities is to free Ojukwu.