The Ekiti State Police Command has detained Sodiq Atanda, a senior reporter with Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), after a petition by Prof Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who is currently on leave.
The petition, filed through the law firm T. S. Adegboyega & Co., accuses the journalist and FIJ of cyberbullying, blackmail, malicious misrepresentation, and criminal defamation.
The police invitation, dated August 22 and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Hadi, directed Atanda to appear before the Commissioner of Police in person on September 4. The reporter honoured the invitation at the force headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, and has since not returned home.
Atanda’s troubles stem from FIJ’s investigative reports alleging misconduct by Fasina, including sexual harassment claims, bribery in top university appointments, and efforts to intimidate whistleblowers. The reports prompted FUOYE’s governing council to place Fasina on a six-month leave in April.
Rights advocates say Atanda’s detention fits a pattern of harassment against media outlet reporters. In August, a correspondent with the organisation, Daniel Ojukwu, said Lagos police threatened him with beheading.
He was also previously abducted in 2024 and held for 10 days. Meanwhile, Fisayo Soyombo, founder of FIJ, has also been arrested multiple times in connection with corruption exposés. Meanwhile, press freedom groups have condemned the crackdowns as attempts to silence investigative journalism and shield influential figures.
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