Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), on Wednesday submitted himself to the police at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) in Abuja after being declared wanted.
The journalist arrived at the centre at 9:00 a.m., escorted by his lawyer.
Fisayo, who was in high spirits, stated in a statement on X on Wednesday that if no one hears from him, it means he has been imprisoned by Nigerian police.
Fisayo is an investigative journalist known for investigative reports and undercover and has exposed systemic, societal injustice, rot, and corruption in the public sector, including the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Customs Service.
The journalist was declared wanted by the Nigerian Police over some of his reports which many top government officials considered offensive.
According to the statement, he wrote, “I have just voluntarily arrived at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) in Abuja based on publicly available information that I am wanted. I’m here with @fijnigeria lawyer @abimbolaojenike.
“If you haven’t heard from me by dawn, it means I have been detained, in which case further updates will be provided by @fijnigeria.
“See you soon, whenever that is—today, tomorrow, next week, next month. Whenever”
It will be recalled that a journalist with FIJ, Daniel Ojukwu Daniel, was arrested in Lagos on Wednesday, May 1, before he was transferred to Abuja on Sunday, May 5.
Following a petition from Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), to former President Muhammadu Buhari, the journalist was interrogated at the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for alleged cybercrime violations.
He was detained for nine days at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), where he received medical attention and had access to his family and lawyer.
It needed the involvement of the Action Group for the Protection of Civic Actors and human rights advocates Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju, who held a protest at the Force Headquarters to demand the release.
