The Nigerian Army has released Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist with the foundation for investigative journalism (FIJ).
Abimbola Ojenike, one of Soyombo’s lawyers, confirmed to our correspondent in a telephone interview that he was released shortly after 7 p.m.
“He has just been released some minutes ago, and we are trying to find our way out of the cantonment. He is now free and has been released to his lawyers. Technically, this means that if his attention is required, his lawyers will have to produce him, but it is not a standard bail process,” Ojenike explained.
In a statement on its official XPG, I announced that the journalist has been released from the custody of the Army.
“The 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ wrote.
Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, verified Soyombo’s detention.
Danjuma stated on Friday that the investigative journalist was apprehended at an illegal oil bunkering facility.
He stated that Soyombo, along with other suspects arrested at the scene, were undergoing preliminary investigations to assess their level of involvement in the suspected murder.
