Court Remands FIJ Journalist Daniel Ojukwu Over Reports on Presidential Aide

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Daniel Ojukwu, a correspondent with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), at the Kuje Correctional Centre over investigative reports concerning Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.

The case, filed by the Nigeria Police Force, also lists FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, as a defendant.

The prosecution alleged that the journalists published reports between November 2023 and January 2024 that defamed Orelope-Adefulire and exposed her to fear of death, violence or bodily harm.

The reports examined government expenditure on classroom construction and other projects under the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the investigations, published on November 7, 2023, questioned a reported N147.1 million payment to a restaurant for classroom construction in Lagos.

Another report examined a N47.5 million classroom construction contract allegedly awarded to Tru3 Nigeria Limited. Other publications investigated the forfeiture of N241 million linked to the SDGs office and the reported failure of solar panels installed at classroom blocks.

Ojukwu’s lawyer, Atanda Kayode, drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application and asked that his client be allowed to continue enjoying the administrative bail previously granted by the police.

However, the judge declined the request, ruling that the bail application, filed on Monday, was not yet ready for hearing.

The court consequently ordered Ojukwu’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until December 1, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application.

The prosecution also informed the court that Soyombo was at large and requested a bench warrant for his arrest. Justice Abdulmalik rejected the application, explaining that the second defendant had not yet been brought before the court.

Ojukwu’s latest detention comes more than two years after his arrest on May 1, 2024, over the same investigative reports. He was released on May 10, 2024, following public outcry and pressure from rights groups.

The case has renewed concerns about the use of cybercrime and defamation laws in proceedings involving investigative journalism and reporting on public officials.

The allegations against the journalists remain before the court and have not been established as facts.