The Nigerian police have declared the well-known investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo wanted on alleged cybercrime charges.
This information was revealed by Bukky Shonibare, a member of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Board of Trustees, following her interrogation by the police in Abuja concerning the same issue.
Fisayo Soyombo, who serves as the executive director and editor-in-chief of FIJ, had recently uncovered anomalies within the personnel of the country’s customs service, which may be related to the police’s invitation.
The invitation from the police is seen as a direct reaction to these disclosures.
During her initial encounter with the police in Abuja about the same matter, Shonibare shared her experience.
She stated that Soyombo is fully prepared to honor the police’s invitation and stressed that the journalist is not avoiding the authorities.
The Chair of the Foundation stated that during the interrogation, the police investigator was adamant about speaking with Soyombo, leading Shonibare to clear up any misunderstandings about his availability.
She explained that ‘Fisayo is ready to respond to the police summons if invited and emphasized that the acclaimed journalist is not evading the police as they had presumed.
She recounted, “The investigator shut his iPad, rested his hands on the table, and declared, ‘We need to speak to ‘Fisayo. You must bring ‘Fisayo.’ I responded, ‘If you’re saying I must bring ‘Fisayo, it implies you’ve attempted to contact him or you’ve summoned him and he failed to appear, hence you require me to produce him in some capacity.’
“I had to make it clear that ‘Fisayo wasn’t fleeing; it’s not the case that they had summoned him and he hadn’t shown up. He then inquired when I could bring ‘Fisayo. I questioned whether this was a new invitation. He affirmed, but insisted I return with ‘Fisayo.
“I informed him we would need to consult with ‘Fisayo to ascertain his availability, and that ‘Fisayo isn’t on the run. After recording the statement, he stepped out and then invited us to meet the deputy director, who had left during the questioning.
“They escorted us in, and he inquired, ‘Madam, how did it go?’ I replied that questions were posed and addressed. When asked if I was treated well, I said it was subjective. He remarked that he noticed our caution and suggested we could be allies, making an effort to appear friendly and lighthearted.
“He questioned why FIJ didn’t operate like a certain other non-profit organization.
“The deputy director mentioned his friendship with this other non-profit, noting they conduct their research and share their findings with the police. ‘Why then do we publish our work?’ he queried. ‘Why not present our findings to them and resolve matters amicably?’
“I explained that FIJ stands for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism. That’s our mission. We are not just another non-profit seeking to befriend others by delivering stories. Our approach is different. Our duty is to publish stories.”
