Police now use Cybercrime act to suppress investigative journalism in Nigeria, group alleges

The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has raised alarm that police authorities in Nigeria now uses the Cybercrime act 2015 to harass and arbitrarily detain journalists and media workers.

Penpushing reports that the body made this known in reaction to the arrest and continued detention of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), for alleged violation of the 2015 Cybercrime act by the Nigeria Police.

The Coalition in a statement signed by Deputy Director, Centre For Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Busola Ajibola said the group was concerned about the reported arrest and continued detention of Ojukwu, recalling that he was abducted by the police on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 and his phones have since been switched off and whereabouts undisclosed.

Penpushing further reports that the statement said Ojukwu’s family only got wind of his whereabouts on Friday, May 3 2024, that he is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.

‘In a phone conversation with CJID, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that Mr Ojukwu was arrested by men of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigerian Police and is detained at the facilities of the Lagos state Police Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti’.

Penpushing also reports that Ajibola emphasized that Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) condemned the action of the police, stressing that continue detention of the journalist was unacceptable as it negates the basic principles of democracy.

‘The arrest and continued detention of Mr Ojukwu is not only a violation of his fundamental human rights but also an assault on press freedom. We call on the Nigerian police to immediately release Mr. Daniel Ojukwu and follow legal procedures to engage him’, the statement said.

Penpushing reports that the group called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Cybercrime act 2015 ceases to be a weapon used in the harassment and arbitrarily detainment of journalists and media workers.

The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) declared that the call became necessary based on past instances where the Cybercrime law has been used to criminalise journalism, harass and detain them.

‘We also call on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Cybercrime act 2015 ceases to be a weapon used in the harassment and arbitrarily detainment of journalists and media workers. We make this call based on past instances where the Cybercrime law has been used to criminalise journalism, harass and detain them’.

Penpushing further reports that the Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) reiterate that such intimidation constitutes an attack on press freedom and the right of the people to information.

‘We reiterate that such intimidation constitutes an attack on press freedom and the right of the people to information. The Nigerian Police in this instance must therefore avoid using the Cybercrimes Act to suppress investigative journalism aimed at entrenching a transparent and accountable system. Journalism plays a critical role in democracy, and such actions are bound to undermine its core principles’, the group emphasised.

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