Court declines arrest warrant of journalist Fisayo Soyombo over publication of failed SSAP-SDGs contracts

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, has declined approval of request for the warrant of arrest of journalist Fisayo Soyombo, Founder of Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ.

The Office of the Inspector General of Police has requested for the bench warrant against Soyombo over reports published about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (SSAP-SDGs).

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The trial Judge declined, saying she could not compel appearance of Soyombo, because he hasn’t appeared before the Court before.

The IGP alleged cyber bullying against the female presidential aide in 2024, and filed a 12-count charge, including criminal defamation against Soyombo and Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with FIJ.

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The charges were filed at the federal high court in Abuja following a petition by Orelope-Adefulire.

The prosecutor during the resumed Court session on Tuesday October 10, 2026, averred that Soyombo was at large, and sought a bench warrant for his arrest.

The prosecution also applied for Ojukwu’s remand after the charges were read to him.

Meanwhile, Ojukwu’s counsel told the court of the pending bail application

But the presiding judge declined to hear it, adding that it was filed on Monday and was not yet ripe for hearing.

Abdulmalik ordered that the FIJ journalist be remanded at the Kuje correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application, which was adjourned until December 1, 2026.

Kunle Lawal, Tolulope Osho, Grace Baiyeshea and Marvelous Orji appeared for the prosecution, while Atanda Kayode, Ayo Oluseye, Olaoluwa Ariyo and MBI Amosun represented Ojukwu.

Meanwhile, Soyombo reacting to claims that he was at large faulted the prosecutors and cited several activities he was engaged that were in public domain.

He expressed his readiness to make himself available at Court on the adjourned date.

The controversial publication against the presidential aide on FIJ website partly reads:

FIJ questioned the expenditure of N147.5 million by the office of the SSAP-SDGs on the construction of classrooms and a skills acquisition centre at Ajeromi Primary School in Lagos.

One of the publications, titled ‘Special Report: 2 Weeks Before End of Buhari’s Tenure, Special Assistant, Adefulire Paid a Restaurant N147.1m to Build Classrooms in Lagos. A Lot Was Amiss’, was published on November 7, 2023.

Another report, published on December 3, 2023, was titled ‘How Orelope Adefulire’s OSSAP-SDGs Paid N47.5m for Shady Contract on Amosun’s Request’.0

The charge sheet also referenced a November 9, 2023 report titled ‘Flashback: How EFCC made Orelope-Adefulire’s SDGs Forfeit N241m Instead of Billions’.

A January 21, 2024 report titled ‘One Week After OSSAP-SDGs Built Classroom Blocks in Amosun’s District, Solar Panels Stop Working’ was also listed among the publications.

In the reports, FIJ questioned the execution of projects funded by the SSAP-SDGs office, including the construction of classroom blocks and the installation of solar panels.

FIJ had reported that its visit to Ajeromi Primary School in October 2023 revealed a dilapidated and understaffed facility, with no visible evidence of the reported construction work. The organisation also said a mosque stood on the site where the school should have been.

Meanwhile, CAPITAL POST observed that Mrs Adefulire or her office has neither defended the allegations before shuttling between the Police and the Court, alleging cyberbullying.

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