Alleged Cyber Crime: Groups Demand Release Of Detained Journalist Daniel Ojukwu.

Ojukwu went missing on May 1 in Lagos. He was later detained and held in a police station for allegedly violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, often criticized as a tool for censorship.

The Action Group on the Protection of Civic Actors, a Nigerian coalition of media and civil society groups are calling for the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

Ojukwu went missing on May 1 in Lagos. He was later detained and held in a police station for allegedly violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, often criticized as a tool for censorship.

The arrest of Ojukwu, who was later transferred to the Nigerian capital of Abuja, followed his report about alleged financial mismanagement of over 147 million naira ($104,600) involving a senior government official, according to his employer, the foundation.

Addressing journalists at the main entrance of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, spokesperson of the group, Bukky Shonibare said the recent surge in attacks on press freedom and the silencing of dissenting voices is becoming alarming.

She explained that after nine days in detention after forcefully arresting Ojukwu on alleged orders of the inspector general of police, the police are duty bound to file charges against him or release him unconditionally.