Daniel Ojukwu: Sowore, Adeyanju lead protest at police HQ over unlawful detention of journalist
A report alleged that a news story on former Lagos deputy governor Orelope Adefulire was the reason behind the Police detention of the journalist.
The presidential banner of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 polls, Omoyele Sowore and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju have led a peaceful protest at the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja over the unlawful detention of a journalist, Daniel Ojukwu.
Ojukwu, who writes for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been detained by the police for nine days for an alleged cybercrime offence.
However, a report by FIJ alleged that Ojukwu was held in police custody for an investigative report he did on the former deputy governor of Lagos, Orelope Adefulire, who was appointed by the ex-President Muhammadu Buhari administration as senior special assistant on sustainable development goals (SSAP-SDGs).
Why Ojukwu was allegedly detained
It was gathered that Adefulire was tasked with helping the country meet the United Nations’ 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs. Before her appointment, she served as deputy to Governor Babatunde Fashola in Lagos from 2011 to 2015.
Orelope-Adefulire spoke highly of her intention to achieve SDGs 3 and 4, which concern good health and primary education.
On May 15, 2023, the office made a substantial payment of N147,127,467.58 to Enseno Global Ventures Ltd. for the construction of an acquisition centre (type A) and a block of six classrooms at Ajeromi Primary School, Lagos State.
This investment held the promise of significantly improving the educational landscape in the area.
This was expected to enhance education quality in the area and contribute to achieving SDG 4.
Five months later, FIJ investigated the project’s status. On October 6, 2023, they searched Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA for the specified school but found approximately 72 primary schools instead.
These schools suffered neglect, lack of staff, and poorly equipped classrooms.
A week later, a visit was made to the community to check for any new facilities. Government school staff, speaking anonymously, revealed that no improvements had been made in over a year.