Nigerian journalist Damilola Ayeni is now free to move about. After being presented to the Special Prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET), he was released.
Arrested and detained since August 31, 2023, Nigerian journalist Damilola Ayeni from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is now free. He was presented to the Special Prosecutor of CRIET who decided to release him. Therefore, there was no detention order.
According to FIJ’s information, the journalist was arrested in Pendjari Park, northern Benin, while he was there for information gathering. He was suspected of acts related to terrorism. For these allegations, the Nigerian journalist faced a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
The Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO) expressed relief at Damilola Ayeni’s release. According to this organization, it is “a significant act in favor of press freedom.”
