Force Headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force on Monday detained Fisayo Soyombo, founder and editor-in-chief of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). 

Mr Soyombo had honoured an invitation to be interviewed by the head of the IGP monitoring unit of the force on Monday. Shortly after arriving at the interview, Mr Soyombi disclosed that he was invited in connection with his work as a journalist and placed the public on alert of his possible detention. 

“The decision to come was straightforward: I am a law-abiding citizen who has committed no crime unless journalism is one. If there is no update on this handle by dusk, it means I have been unjustly detained,” Mr Soyombo tweeted. 

Mr Soyombo has since been detained according to a report by his organisation. His detention is in connection with a story that was published in August, accusing police top brass of mismanaging up to N1 billion naira allocated for police camp projects in various parts of the northern region. 

Joseph Egbunike, police chief at the heart of the scandal, was flagged by FIJ as the head of a police panel that was asked to probe Abba Kyari, who has been indicted in the United States for his role in the international money laundering ring led by Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

In its Monday night statement, Mr Soyombo’s paper said he had been invited following a petition by a group of lawyers defending the police against corrupt activities exposed by FIJ.

Mr Soyombo’s detention continues to raise concern amongst citizens and the press community owing to the Nigeria Police Force long history of human rights violations and lack of respect for due process. 

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the development, saying it was concerned about Mr Soyombo’s arrest.

The FIJ said the police have yet to provide additional information as to why Mr Soyombo has not been released several hours after honouring their invitation. A spokesman for the police in Abuja did not immediately return a request seeking comments from Peoples Gazette on Monday evening.

Mr Soyombo was released shortly after this story was published and demand for his freedom intensified online. His paper released the following statement announcing his release: “We can confirm that our Founder @fisayosoyombo has been released by the Force Headquarters. He was released on bail at exactly 6:26 pm today and is to return on January 13, 2022. Our only offence here is that we published a TRUE story.”

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated with the reaction of CPJ and news of Mr Soyombo’s release from his organisation.