Abuja Court Remands Journalist Daniel Ojukwu at Kuje

The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered journalist Daniel Ojukwu held at Kuje Correctional and Custodial Centre after he pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of cyberstalking and criminal defamation. The court set December 1, 2026, for a hearing on his bail application and rejected a request to keep him on police administrative bail.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the remand order after the charges were read to Ojukwu. His lawyer told the court that a bail application had been filed, but the judge said it was not ready to be heard. The defence also argued Ojukwu had not breached the conditions of his administrative bail. The court declined that request, noting that the charges had been served before the bail application was filed.

The charges concern reports Ojukwu wrote for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism about Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, who served as a senior special assistant on sustainable development goals during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Prosecutors allege the publications exposed OrelopeAdefulire to fear of death, violence or bodily harm and accuse Ojukwu and FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo of cyberstalking and criminal defamation. Ojukwu...