The Coalition for Whistleblowers Safety and Press Freedom, CWPPF, have referred to as on the Inspector Common of Police to make sure that the Cybercrime Act, 2015, ceases to be a weapon used for the harassment and arbitrary detainment of journalists and media employees.
The coalition made the decision on Saturday whereas reacting to the reported arrest and continued detention of Mr Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Basis for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), for alleged violation of the Cybercrime Act by the Nigeria Police.
In a press release signed by the Deputy Director, Centre for Journalism Innovation Growth, CJID, Busola Ajibola, the coalition lamented that the household of the journalist solely discovered on Friday, Could 3, 2024, that he’s being held on the State Prison Investigation Division (SCID), Panti in Lagos.
Condemning the arrest, the coalition famous that the arrest and continued detention of Ojukwu shouldn’t be solely a violation of his elementary human rights but additionally an assault on press freedom.
“We name on the Nigerian police to instantly launch Mr Daniel Ojukwu and comply with authorized procedures to interact him,” the coalition careworn.
The assertion added: “We additionally name on the Inspector Common of Police to make sure that the Cybercrime act 2015 ceases to be a weapon used within the harassment and arbitrarily detainment of journalists and media employees.
“We make this name based mostly on previous situations the place the Cybercrime legislation has been used to criminalise journalism, harass and detain them.
“Journalism performs a crucial position in democracy, and such actions are sure to undermine its core ideas.”
