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FIJ Reporter’s Wife And Baby Freed After Controversial Detention In Lagos.
According to reports, Adenike Atanda, the wife of senior investigative reporter Sodeeq Atanda from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), and their nine-month-old baby have been released after being detained in the Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. The release came on Monday evening, shortly after police arrested her husband, who was later freed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
FIJ revealed that Adenike and her infant were held at a local police station for several hours, during which officers allegedly instructed her to contact her husband with false information that their child had fallen ill and was being taken to the hospital. Adenike recounted, “When they realised my husband was no longer far from the house, the policemen drove me and my baby to a street not far from our home. And when they saw him, they handcuffed him and took him away. That was when they released my baby and me.”
Sodeeq Atanda was subsequently taken to the Force Headquarters annex in Obalende, Lagos, where he remained in custody for several hours before being released shortly before midnight.
FIJ linked the incident to an earlier attempt to summon Atanda for questioning. On November 26, an individual identifying as ‘Omo Eleniyan’ contacted him via WhatsApp, claiming to be from the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit. The message noted that Atanda’s name had been mentioned in a petition and that he was being invited for further investigation. Atanda requested that any formal communication be sent via FIJ’s official email, but the sender insisted the invitation was personal. No further communication occurred until the Monday evening detention of his wife and child.
The Lagos State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the circumstances of the detention and release. SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Police Public Relations Officer, indicated that she was still attempting to gather information from the Force Headquarters Annex.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism online, with many Nigerians condemning the arrest of a journalist and his family as a troubling infringement on press freedom and raising questions about law enforcement conduct.
Nigerian journalist and publisher Segun Olawoye has raised concerns over an alleged threat to his life, stating that Minister of Works David Umahi should be held responsible if anything happens to him.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Olawoye, founder of ObjecTV Media, made the claim during a press briefing, revealing that he received a cryptic WhatsApp message from a number later identified as belonging to Umahi.
The dispute stems from a secret recording Olawoye made during a meeting related to the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. The meeting, held in August 2025, followed protests at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja over the realignment of the Lagos section of the highway. Concerned that the protests might turn violent, Olawoye recorded the discussion discreetly.
Alleged WhatsApp Threat
Olawoye said that on March 8, 2026, he received a message from an unknown number, later identified as Umahi’s, accusing him of secretly recording and sharing the conversation. The message reportedly stated:
“You came to my office and secretly videoed our conversations and shared… You have no right to do that.”
The sender allegedly added that Olawoye could still apologise “on my terms.”
Fearing the message could be interpreted as a threat, Olawoye went public. He emphasized that he has no personal or financial disputes putting his life at risk, adding:
“As of today, March 12, 2026, I am in good health. I have no suicidal thoughts. If anything happens to me… Engr. David Nweze Umahi should be held responsible.”
Background of the Dispute
The controversy is linked to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a major infrastructure initiative under President Bola Tinubu. Protests arose from affected communities and investors, including those connected to WinHomes Estate. Representatives were later invited to meet with the minister to discuss the matter, during which the recording was made.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the price of petrol to ₦1,175 per litre, hours after reducing it, Naija News reports.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The sudden increase prompted depot operators across Nigeria to temporarily halt sales. The refinery had earlier lowered the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by ₦100 on March 10, 2026, bringing it down from ₦1,175 to ₦1,075 per litre. Depot operators, who had started selling at around ₦1,100 per litre, paused transactions following the price revision.
Loading operations at the refinery have also been temporarily suspended to reconcile stock levels and adjust to the new pricing framework. The move comes amid rising global crude oil prices, with Brent crude climbing from $91 to $100 per barrel, directly affecting refining costs.
Meanwhile, the federal government has stated it will not intervene to regulate petrol prices despite volatility in global markets caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Finance Minister Wale Edun, in an interview with Channels Television, said the government plans to cushion Nigerians from rising energy costs through alternative measures, including expanding the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the provision of 100,000 additional CNG conversion kits to help motorists switch from petrol to the more affordable alternative, which costs roughly 25–30% of petrol’s price.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has dismissed claims that he sought the support of Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, during the 2023 election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Bwala, in an interview with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze, alleged that Obi used former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ask him to work for him in 2023, but that he declined.
Speaking on Obi’s behalf, Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) spokesman Ibrahim Umar called the allegation false and said it was necessary to clarify the matter to prevent public misinformation.
Umar emphasized that Obi consistently distances himself from transactional politics, noting that he does not pay individuals to promote a good cause. Instead, Obi focuses on persuasion and urges collective efforts to improve Nigeria. The spokesman also challenged Bwala and others to abandon greed and join Obi’s vision for a better nation.
The statement read in part:
“Peter Obi excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics. The Peter Obi Nigerians know will never pay people to spread falsehoods; he would rather use resources to benefit communities directly. His approach is rooted in good governance and building a better society for all. We urge Bwala and others like him to count Peter Obi out of their greed, repent, and join the quest for a new Nigeria that is POssible.”
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