Coalition Urges Police To Cease Using Cybercrime Act To Target Journalists

Coalition Urges Police To Cease Using Cybercrime Act To Target Journalists

The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has called upon the Inspector General of Police to put an end to the use of the Cybercrime Act, 2015, as a tool for the harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists and media personnel…..READ ALSO Afemai Coalition For Ighodalo Engages Market Communities Across Edo North

This call comes in response to the reported arrest and ongoing detention of Mr. Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), allegedly for violating the Cybercrime Act by the Nigeria Police.

In a statement signed by Busola Ajibola, the Deputy Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation Development (CJID), the coalition expressed dismay that Ojukwu’s family only learned of his incarceration on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.

The coalition condemned Ojukwu’s arrest, stating that it not only violates his fundamental human rights but also constitutes an assault on press freedom.

“We call on the Nigerian police to immediately release Mr. Daniel Ojukwu and follow legal procedures to engage him,” emphasized the coalition.

Additionally, the coalition urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Cybercrime Act 2015 is no longer weaponized to harass and arbitrarily detain journalists and media workers. They cited past instances where this law was misused to criminalize journalism, leading to the harassment and detention of media professionals.

The statement underscored the critical role journalism plays in democracy and emphasized that such actions undermine its core principles.

Join our channel for more latest news https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaV4jB6DuMRgwqnJCF32