The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has confirmed the release of its founder, Fisayo Soyombo, on Friday.
THE WHISTLER reported that Soyombo, a renowned investigative journalist, was arrested by the Nigerian Army on Tuesday.
The Army claimed that Soyombo was arrested at an undisclosed illegal oil bunkering site where its troops carried out a raid.
Before then, the FIJ reported that its founder had gone incommunicado for three days after his phones were seized by the Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
However, in a developing report, the FIJ revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that its founder had been released following an intense media campaign.
The post read, “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.
“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.
“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention.
“We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”
Earlier, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) had condemned the arrest of Soyombo, describing his arrest as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
The group called for his unconditional release, asking the Federal Government to put “an immediate end to the persistent and widespread abuse of powers by government agencies.”
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Programme Officer, John Gbadamosi, argued that: “The Nigerian Army lacks the authority to arrest or detain civilians.”
The statement read partly: “In any event, it is a clear requirement under the Constitution that anyone who is deprived of his personal liberty upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed a criminal offence, must be charged to court within 24 hours.
“Both of these fundamental legal guarantees have been violated in the arrest and detention of Mr. Soyombo by the Nigerian Army.”
According to Gbadamosi, the Army has limited powers of arrest under the Constitution and those powers apply only under very specific conditions related to the mandate and functions of the Army.
Noting that Soyombo has not been accused or alleged to have engaged in any insurrection, he said “The Nigerian Army Act does not grant the Nigerian Army powers to arrest civilians under ordinary circumstances.”
He insisted that even if Soyombo has committed any crime warranting his arrest, it is not the duty of the Nigerian Army to carry out the arrest, as they has no such authority under the Constitution.