The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has strongly condemned the arrest and harassment of journalist Azuka Ogujiuba by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ogujiuba, publisher of Media Room Hub and a former ThisDay journalist, has reportedly been arrested and detained twice over her reporting on a court case involving a land dispute. Despite residing in Lagos, she has been repeatedly ordered to appear in Abuja, raising concerns of deliberate intimidation.
In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, IPI Nigeria described the actions of the police as “blatant harassment aimed at silencing a journalist for performing her lawful duties.”
The institute warned that such treatment undermines press freedom, erodes public confidence in the rule of law, and violates Nigeria’s obligations under both local and international human rights frameworks.
It further urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to put an end to the intimidation and ensure any allegations against Ogujiuba are pursued legally. “If the police believe she has committed an offence, the appropriate step is to charge her before a competent court of law — not to subject her to endless intimidation,” the statement declared.
IPI Nigeria cautioned that continued harassment would compel it to list the Inspector-General in its “Book of Infamy,” a public record naming individuals and institutions accused of suppressing press freedom.
The institute emphasized that journalists must be able to cover issues of public interest without fear of detention or reprisals, stressing: “Any attempt to muzzle the press strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s democracy and weakens public trust in its institutions.”
Reaffirming its solidarity with Ogujiuba and other journalists facing similar threats, IPI Nigeria called on the government and security agencies to respect press freedom and protect the constitutional rights of the media.
The statement was jointly signed by Fidelis Mbah, Deputy President of IPI Nigeria, and Tobi Soniyi, Legal Adviser and Chair of the Advocacy Committee.