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The founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo, has announced plans to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 1 for arraignment over investigative reports published by the organisation.
Soyombo said he had yet to receive the criminal charge and proof of evidence from the police but decided to attend the proceedings out of respect for the court.
He disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday, shortly after visiting his colleague, Daniel Ojukwu, who is being detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja over the reports.
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Soyombo said he made the decision after receiving a briefing from the organisation’s lawyers on the court proceedings held on Tuesday.
“I understand that the Inspector General of Police deemed me ‘at large’ and asked for a bench warrant to arrest me and bring me to court. That won’t be necessary; I’m coming to court.
“As of this moment, I have not yet been served any criminal charge or proof of evidence, either personally or by other substituted means.
“However, after being briefed by FIJ’s lawyers on Tuesday’s court proceedings, I have decided to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 1, 2026 for my arraignment as the second defendant in the case.
“The law requires the IGP to ensure personal service of the Criminal Charge and Proof of Evidence on me; this has not been done but I will appear in court as a show of respect for the court. A truthteller has nothing to fear or any reason to run,” he wrote.
The development followed the prosecution’s unsuccessful application for a bench warrant against Soyombo during Tuesday’s proceedings.
The police had told the court that the journalist was at large and that efforts to serve him with the charges had been unsuccessful.
However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the application, ruling that a bench warrant could not be issued against Soyombo because he had not previously appeared before the court.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/486/2024, involves Soyombo and Ojukwu, who are facing 12 counts bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
According to the charge sheet, the allegations arose from investigative reports published on FIJ’s website between November 2023 and January 2024 concerning alleged payments by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs for projects in Lagos State.
The police alleged that the publications harassed Orelope-Adefulire and caused her to fear death, violence or bodily harm.
The journalists were also accused of conspiracy and criminal defamation.
Ojukwu pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned on Tuesday. The court subsequently ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application on December 1.
Meanwhile, Soyombo said Ojukwu remained cheerful during his visit to the correctional centre but expressed concern about his colleague’s health, recalling his long-standing battle with asthma.
“I just came out of Kuje Prison where I visited my colleague @Mazi_OJD, who is currently remanded in the prison over @fijnigeria’s reports.
“Daniel was his usual ebullient self, full of smiles, unruffled and even cracking jokes. I do worry for him, though, knowing his long-running battle with asthma,” he said.
Soyombo disclosed that he was accompanied on the visit by the founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Funke Adeoye, and the Deputy Director of Journalism at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Busola Ajibola.
He also thanked those who had supported the campaign for Ojukwu’s release and urged journalists and press freedom advocates to continue speaking up.
“We thank everyone who has lent their voice to #FreeDanielOjukwu. The quest to protect the freedom of the press requires relentless courage in the face of fire; none of us must give up!” he added.
Ojukwu was arrested on May 1, 2024, over the same investigative reports and detained for 10 days before his release following protests at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The latest court proceedings came more than two years after his arrest, with the police pursuing charges against the two journalists over the publications.
