Abuja, Nigeria — September 10, 2025.

The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development condemns the arbitrary detention of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was taken into custody on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, by the Ekiti State Police Command in Ado-Ekiti. 

In a letter dated September 1 seen by the CJID, the police had summoned Atanda based on a petition by Abayomi Fasina, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), complaining of cyberbullying, blackmail and criminal defamation. 

Atanda told CJID that he was detained at the headquarters of the Ekiti state police command for over 8 hours on the orders of Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo, upon honoring the invitation.

This action, reportedly instigated by a petition submitted to the police following a report published by the FIJ, is a direct and unwarranted assault on press freedom and an attempt to intimidate journalists from reporting on matters of public interest.

According to the journalist, the police and the complainant’s representative at intervals insisted that he disclosed his sources, an act that is not only against standard journalistic principles but also violates the rights of the persons involved to privacy. 

Mr. Atanda was thereafter subjected to inhumane treatments by the police officers who forced him to walk barefoot in the premises of the police headquarters and stringent bail conditions including the provision of two sureties, one of whom must provide cash or landed properties valued at the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00K) Only in Ado-Ekiti or any part of Nigeria with Certificate of Occupancy while the Second surety must be a level-10 Officer and above in State or Federal Civil Service serving within the jurisdiction of Ekiti State, Nigeria. He was, however, eventually released unconditionally.

An extended invitation of Fisayo Soyombo, publisher of FIJ, for an interview with the Commissioner of Police on September 15th at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti, despite FIJ’s office being in Lagos, leads us to believe that the newsroom is being further targeted.

The CJID views the actions of the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police with grave concern. Rather than addressing the report’s core issues, leveraging the investigative report and evidence provided in it to conduct further investigation, the Commissioner has permitted private individuals to misuse the police force to intimidate a journalist and his newsroom into silence. This represents an unacceptable abuse of power and state resources. The police force must serve the people and the cause of justice, not the personal interests of influential individuals seeking to evade scrutiny.

We reiterate unequivocally that Journalism is not a crime. It is an essential service that holds power to account and labeling investigative reporting as a crime is a dangerous perversion of the law and a clear effort to muzzle the press.

The incessant harassment and detention of journalists by state actors in Nigeria is a disturbing trend that threatens the very core of our nation’s democratic values. Between January and August 9, 2025, the CJID Press Attack Tracker has tracked, verified and documented 54 cases of press freedom violations across the country, with security agents, particularly the police, perpetrating the majority of the attacks. This is a disturbing trend that must immediately be brought to an end. 

We demand that the Ekiti State Police Command immediately cease all forms of harassment against Sodeeq Atanda and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).

We also call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unjustified detention of the journalist and hold accountable those who have misused their authority.

The Nigerian government must take concrete steps to protect journalists and create an enabling environment for them to work without fear of reprisal. An attack on a journalist is an attack on every citizen’s right to know. We will not stand by while the freedom of the press is eroded.

The CJID remains resolute in solidarity with all journalists committed to credible journalism, including Mr Sodiq and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism. We will continue to monitor this situation closely to ensure that the journalist regains his freedom and justice is served.

Signed,

Busola Ajibola, 

Deputy Director, Journalism Programme, CJID.