The Nigerian Police authorities have released Daniel Ojukwu, the detained journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
Ojukwu, who went missing last Wednesday with his phone numbers switched off and whereabouts unknown to colleagues, regained his freedom on Friday. But it was later found out that he was 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 N147 million ($104,600) involving a senior government official, according to his employer.
Confirming Ojukwu’s release on its website, the FIJ said: “Daniel Ojukwu, the FIJ reporter who was abducted by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police, has regained freedom after 10 days in police captivity.”
“Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday May 1, his numbers switched off and his whereabouts unknown to colleagues, family and friends.”
His release came barely 10 days after he was arrested in Lagos and flew into Abuja without knowledge of his family.
Local and international organizations have condemned the act of the Police authority.
