Journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, ‘Wanted’ Over Report Of Corruption In Prisons

Prison authorities are allegedly planning the arrest of undercover journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, over an investigative report profiling corruption in Nigeria’s prisons.

Mr Soyombo, a former editor of The Cable and a contributor to Al Jazeera, recently published the investigation segmented into three parts.

The first detailed how Nigerian policemen “pervert the course of justice in their quest for ill-gotten money”.

The second published on Monday by The Cable revealed corruption in the judiciary.

Soyombo spent five days in a cell at Pedro Police Station, Shomolu, Lagos and eight days in Ikoyi prison.

The journalist assumed the name Ojo Olajumoke during his investigation which included audio, pictorial and video evidence of corruption in the Nigerian judicial system.

The Guardian quoted a source on Tuesday who claimed that prison authorities are plotting to arrest Soyombo.

The journalist has subsequently pulled out of a workshop on fake news organised by Goethe Institute where he was scheduled to speak on Tuesday evening.

“Prison authorities are very angry and have decided to get the journalist arrested. He is to be charged to court and prosecuted under Section 29 of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act,” the source was quoted saying.

The newspaper quoted another source which alleged that Soyombo has been forced to go into hiding.