This was according to a statement jointly signed by the President, IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed and the Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, IPI Nigeria, Tobi Soniyi, on Saturday.
It was earlier reported that Ojukwu was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti in Lagos.
While condemning his abduction and continued detention, IPI appealed to the Inspector General of Police, KayodeEgbetokun, to order Ojukwu’s immediate release.
The statement partly reads, “IPI NIGERIA strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of MrOjukwu.
“Coming at about the period the world is celebrating the freedom of the press, the action of the Nigeria Police Force speaks volumes of the attitude and commitment of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to the freedom of the press.
“Some weeks ago, the Nigerian military abducted a journalist, MrSegunOlatunji, in a Gestapo manner in Lagos and flew him to Abuja under humiliating conditions in apparent violation of his rights to dignity and expression.”
IPI noted that the abduction of journalists is becoming a pattern which will not be accepted. It described Ojukwu’s abduction as “Abuse of power.”
“With the two incidents cited above, a pattern has emerged that points to the fact that the administration of President Bola Tinubu does not only condone repression of freedom of the press but also encourage it, in contradiction of promises made during the president’s inaugural speech that his administration would uphold fundamental human rights.
“We have always stated, and it bears repeating that in a democratic setting, the proper step to take is to follow due process in seeking remedies against journalists.
“It amounts to an abuse of his powers and office for the Inspector General of Police to order the abduction of a journalist just because he is the overall head of the Nigeria Police Force”, the statement added.
The institute called on President Bola Tinubu to sanction the IGP for encouraging human rights violations and failing to lead by example.
“IPI Nigeria calls on President Tinubu to sanction the Inspector General of the Police, having failed to lead by example. Nobody is above the law.
“Human rights violations have continued unabated because perpetrators are hardly held to account. It is time to begin holding those suppressing freedom of expression to account.
“Daniel Ojukwu should be released immediately, or else the Inspector General of Police, KayodeEgbetokun, will be included in IPI Nigeria’s book of infamy and branded an enemy of the media and journalists. His inclusion on the list carries serious consequences beyond the shores of Nigeria”, the statement concluded.
Similarly, former Vice-president AtikuAbubakar has called for the release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), arrested by the police.
Ojukwu has been in police custody since May 1 after he was “abducted” in Lagos.
The family of the journalist and FIJ management were initially not aware of his whereabouts until 48 hours after he was declared missing.
The journalist was not allowed to communicate with his family members and friends as his mobile gadgets were seized.
On Sunday, RidwanOke, a human rights lawyer, said Ojukwu had been taken to Abuja from Lagos.
Muyiwa Adejobi, police public relations officer (PPRO), said the journalist has a case to answer over alleged violation of sections of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015.
Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said his ministry is working to resolve the issues around the detention of Ojukwu.
Reacting to the issue on Sunday, Abubakar, in a statement posted on his X handle, described Ojukwu’s arrest as irresponsible and a breach of free press.
“The arrest of Ojukwu may not be unconnected with the groundbreaking investigative works of the independent Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that has exposed an alleged high-profile smuggler with links to top officials of this administration,” the statement reads.
“I wish to also remind of the arrest and detention of SegunOlatunji of FirstNews Newspaper and ChinonsoUba aka NonsoUkwa of Oziza FM Radio.
“It is not only irresponsible to arrest journalists for exposing the ills that abound in this government, it is also a breach of their constitutionally guaranteed Free Press.
“That the arrest of Ojukwu came barely 48 hours after the observance of the World Press Freedom Day, speaks volumes of the character of the Tinubu administration to freedom of the press. The least that is expected of the relevant authorities is to free Ojukwu.”