The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on authorities in the Benin Republic to release Nigerian travel journalist Mathew Ojoduma, who has been detained on terrorism charges since January 29.
Ojoduma is the founder of the Africa Views channel, which focuses on covering African cities.
He has been in prison in Benin since he was detained on the Benin-Burkina Faso border after he was caught with a drone, camera, and laptop.
His family is also seeking the intervention of the Nigerian government for his release.
The ICIR reports that Beninese police arrested Ojoduma when he was crossing Benin’s northern border into Burkina Faso at the town of Porga, with a camera, drone, and laptop, according to Ojoduma’s wife, Priscilla Mathew, who spoke with CPJ, and court documents, reviewed by CPJ.
“Authorities in Benin must immediately release journalist Mathew Ojoduma, who has already wasted nine months of his life in jail on spurious terrorism charges,” said CPJ Africa Director, Angela Quintal.
“The Nigerian government must also step up and act to ensure fair treatment of its citizens, rather than keeping silent in the face of this heinous abuse of press freedom,” Quintal added.
On February 13, Ojoduma was charged with membership of a terrorist organisation, and his case was heard on May 19, according to a judgment issued that day by the Special Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET), reviewed by CPJ, and Ojoduma’s lawyer, who declined to be named, citing fear of reprisal.
The judgment said Ojoduma was “suspected of being in intelligence with terrorist groups” — a charge he denied — because of his “’insistence’ on travelling via Porga, “despite the prevailing climate of insecurity” there.
The court referred the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office as its criminal nature was beyond its competence.
(ICIR)
