Information Minister Promises To Resolve Issues Surrounding Arrested Journalist Daniel Ojukwu
MINISTER of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday, said his ministry was working to resolve the issues, as condemnation greeted the arrest and detention of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ.
On May 1, Ojukwu was reported to have gone missing but his family and management of FIJ later discovered that he was in police custody.
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, later discovered that he was arrested in Lagos and taken to Abuja by operatives attached to the national cybercrime centre, Abuja, over a petition filed against him.
Those who condemned the incarceration of Ojukwu, yesterday, included Ridwan Oke, a human rights lawyer and ActionAid Nigeria.
Giving an update to journalists, yesterday, Muyiwa Adejobi, Force spokesperson, said Ojukwu had a case to answer.
“It has been confirmed that the journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, was arrested by the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja, based on a petition filed against him. It’s a case of violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other extant laws of the land.
‘’He has a case to answer. This was confirmed to me on Sunday by the CP and head of the centre, “he said.
Adejobi said the force headquarters would soon address the matter “to clear the grey areas.”
Speaking on Saturday night at the NUJ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards in Abuja, the information minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was determined to ensure that the work of journalists “will continue unhindered and interrupted.”
He said: “I made a solemn pledge on the first day of assumption of duty that this indeed would be one of the best times for media practitioners in this country because we would say it exactly as it is for you to report. Press freedom is very important to uphold. But I keep telling us also, reminding us that your freedom also has to go with enormous responsibility. You cannot allow purveyors of disinformation and fake news to occupy your space.
“I know that we have had some challenges, especially in the last couple of weeks concerning one journalist who has had some problems with the security agencies. That problem has been solved or is being solved. I’m being reminded by someone today that there’s another one. We are also working to ensure that one is also resolved.
“I am glad to report that UNESCO is coming up with a guide that would help all of us, especially practitioners in the social media to see that their work is done in a way and manner that is factual, honest, transparent, patriotic and also accountable to all Nigerians.
“My message here today is that much as the government is trying to ensure we have an enabling environment for all of you to practice this profession freely and unhindered, the responsibility is incumbent on all of us to also ensure that whatever we say, write and project is also truthful in the interest of our country.”
