The Nigerian Army has announced the release of investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo.
Abimbola Ojenike, a lawyer representing Soyombo, informed a reporter in a phone conversation that Soyombo was freed around 7:00 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.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that Soyombo had been in Army custody for the past three days.
“The 6 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, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, had confirmed Soyombo’s arrest.
In a statement on Friday, Danjuma said Soyombo was apprehended at an illegal oil bunkering site.
He mentioned that Soyombo, as well as the other suspects who were apprehended at the scene, were being subjected questioning to establish their extent of involvement in the suspected offense.
