Connect with us

EVENTS

BREAKING: Nigeria’s FIJ Journalist Daniel Ojukwu Released From Police Detention A Day After Protest

Published

on

Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), detained by the Nigerian police since Wednesday, May 1, 2024, has regained his freedom.

SaharaReporters learnt that Ojukwu was released on Friday.

The journalist’s release comes a day after a coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Action Group for the Protection of Civic Actors and a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore staged a protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand his release.

On Thursday, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, DIG Ayuba Ede, revealed that Ojukwu’s release was at the discretion of the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun.

Ojukwu was secretly abducted by the police in Lagos on Wednesday, May 1 and transferred to Abuja about three days later.

 

He was in detention from May 1 to May 5, before being given access to his phones.

 

The group expressed concern regarding press freedom and shrinking civic space in Nigeria and vowed to continue to occupy the building until the journalist is released.

 

During a closed-door meeting with a PUNCH Newspaper correspondent, Abiodun Sanusi, and a member of the Take It Back Movement, Oshioks Phillip, at the Force Headquarters on Thursday, DIG Ede promised to submit the demand of the protesters to IG Egbetokun and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the FCID, DIG Abiodun Alabi.

 

He said while details of the petition and the ongoing police investigation needed to be reviewed, the final decision on the release of journalist Ojukwu would be based on the discretion of the IG.

Ede said, “It is good that you all have come here; and the protesters demonstrated peacefully without violence. Also, our men had coordinated themselves well.

 

“We are looking into the matter. My office is in charge of police operations, and that’s why I’m interacting with you over the protest at the Force Headquarters.

 

“We have heard your submission concerning how the reporter wrote an article, and a petition was written against him, and he has been arrested. I will also contact the DIG in charge of the FCID to get details of the development as regards their investigation.

 

“Once I have the full details, we would relay the information to the IGP, the IGP is the person that would decide on the journalist’s release, he has the final say on the matter on whether to release him on bail or charge him to court.”

 

On May 3, an investigator hired by FIJ found that Ojukwu’s phone had last been active in the Isheri Olofin neighborhood of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, and FIJ was informed that the journalist was being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti Street on allegations of violating the Cybercrimes Act, the FIJ reported and Ridwan Oke, a lawyer for the outlet, told CPJ.

EVENTS

Traders’ chairman denies selling off doors of demolished shops in Aba market

Published

on

The Chairman of Ekeoha-Aba Shopping Centre Traders Association, Emeka Okeke has denied recent allegations that some doors of demolished shops within the market were illegally sold off during the ongoing remodeling of the centre.

This was in response to allegations by some aggrieved traders that iron doors to their shops in the demolished section of the Ekeoha-Aba market were taken away or sold without their consent.

But Okeke clarified that every single door that was removed under his supervision was properly handled in accordance with due process, as directed by the government.

He emphasized that all removable fittings, particularly the shop doors, were meticulously documented and returned to their rightful owners, either directly to the shop owners or to their duly authorized representatives.

According to him, any doors that remained unaccounted for were likely taken away in haste by some shop owners or their tenants before the arrival of the official demolition task force.

He added that none of the doors removed by the task force was misplaced or sold illegally, as there was a dedicated team responsible for the collection, documentation, and return of the fittings.

Comrade Okeke also recalled that in a general town hall meeting of the market when the allegation first surfaced during the early stages of the demolition, the Chief Security Officer of the market, who was fingered in the alleged illegal sale, challenged anyone with evidence of his involvement to tender evidence.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on trade, commerce and industry, Nwaka Inem last week visited the traders of Ekeoha market to assure them that no order was given by Abia State government for a fresh demolition in the market.

Continue Reading

EVENTS

Ogun: Ohanaeze demands justice for Igbo woman allegedly murdered over N1,500

Published

on

The reported killing of an Igbo trader in Ogun State has attracted condemnation from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide.

The group has therefore asked the Ogun State Government to ensure justice for the victim’s family.

It was alleged that the victim, a woman, Blessing Eze, was killed at Ifo Market, in Ogun State by a gang.

The armed group, said to be parading as government agents, were said to have stabbed Blessing on the chest, resulting in her death.

Sources said her offence was refusing to pay a N1,500 religious levy imposed on the traders at the market.

Reacting, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike asked the Ogun State Government to provide clear details on what led to the death of the Igbo woman.

“We need to know why she was killed; who are those behind her gruesome murder?

“What has the government done to get justice for her? Have the perpetrators been arrested?

“The Ogun State government has to respond appropriately. Time has gone when Ndigbo are continuously treated as slaves in their own country.

“This gruesome murder of an innocent Igbo trader would not be condoned; we must fight until she gets justice,” Okwu vowed.

He also called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to take over the investigation of the matter.

“We are urgently appealing to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to take over the investigation of the matter.

“This is the only way to guarantee justice for the victim’s family,” Okwu stated.

 

Continue Reading

EVENTS

Kanye West is switching things up — again.

Published

on

Just four years after legally changing his name to Ye, the rapper and fashion mogul has now updated it to Ye Ye, according to new business documents obtained in California.

According to Page Six, his chief financial officer, Hussain Lalani, filed the paperwork reflecting the change. The new name, “Ye Ye,” is now listed across several of his companies — including Yeezy Apparel, Yeezy Record Label LLC, and Getting Out Our Dreams Inc. — under the “manager or member name.”

West had previously used “Ye West” in earlier filings.

Continue Reading

Trending