The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Buhari to instruct the Nigerian Police to immediately release Fisayo Soyombo, an Investigative journalist, detained over story on high-level police corruption.
Soyombo had on November 23, 2021, received a text message from the security agency.
“This office is conducting an investigation in which your name and phone number featured, in view of this, you are to interview the Head, IGP Monitoring Unit on the 29th November 2021 by 1000hrs at 1st Floor, Force Hqtrs,” it read.
The journalist honoured the invitation on Monday and discovered it was in connection to a story on the award of contracts for police camps.
The transit police accommodations are located in Benue, Bauchi, Plateau, Katsina and Kano States.
FIJ had reported how, in his former role as CP Budget and Finance, Joseph Egbunike, (now DIG), allegedly joined other senior cops to approve more than N1 billion for the projects.
Egbunike headed the police panel that investigated ex-IRT head, Abba Kyari, after an FBI indictment for alleged fraud and conspiracy.
When FIJ visited the project locations, nothing or little had been done after three years of approval.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Police Detain Journalist Over Story Exposing Corruption
At the N245 million transit camp in Riyom, Plateau State, two uncompleted bungalows and a few mobile buildings on an expanse of land were found, he revealed.
But SERAP, in a swift reaction to the journalist’s arrest via its verified Twitter handle, said journalism is not a crime hence Soyombo should be released with immediate effect.
While threatening appropriate legal action if he’s not immediately released, the rights and accountability project Twitted “Nigeria: Release journalist Soyombo immediately.
Nigeria: Release journalist Soyombo immediately.
Nigeria: Release journalist Soyombo immediately.
Nigeria: Release journalist Soyombo immediately.
Nigeria: Release journalist Soyombo immediately.
“Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
Journalism is NOT a crime.
“We’ll take appropriate legal action if he’s not immediately released”