Journalist Abiodun Sanusi has been released from police detention after public outrage and protests by civil society groups over his arrest in connection with an investigative report.
His detention drew sharp criticism from press freedom advocates, who described the move as an attempt to intimidate journalists and suppress reporting on alleged corruption.
According to reports, Sanusi was held by the Nigeria Police Force for about eight hours on Wednesday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., after honouring an official police invitation. He was later released on bail under conditions set by the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore confirmed the release in a video shared online, while also criticising the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
According to him, the journalist had been reported by Nasiru Dano, whom he accused of trying to use law enforcement against a reporter who had written about alleged wrongdoing.
The bail document reportedly listed the allegations against Sanusi as “defamation of character” and “cyberstalking.” It was said to have been issued under constitutional bail provisions in a case styled between the Inspector General of Police and Sanusi.
One of the most controversial aspects of the case was the reported bail condition. According to the document, Sanusi was required to provide a surety who must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 or above, employed by either the Federal Civil Service or the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and who must also possess a property worth N200 million within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The bail terms reportedly also required the original property documents to be deposited with the police while the matter remains pending.
Sources cited in the report also alleged that police officers attempted to pressure Sanusi into signing incriminating statements, which he reportedly refused to do. Those claims remain allegations, but they have added to concerns about the handling of the case.
Sanusi’s eventual release reportedly followed the intervention of members of the Take It Back Movement, who staged a protest at the FID office alongside Sowore.
The movement later confirmed his release publicly, describing the arrest as part of a broader attack on press freedom in Nigeria.
Sanusi is known for publishing investigative reports focused on governance, public accountability, and alleged misuse of public resources. Reports noted that he previously gained national attention in 2019 after writing about alleged public spending issues involving then Udom Emmanuel.
This case is important because it feeds into a bigger concern already growing in Nigeria: whether police powers and cybercrime laws are increasingly being used to pressure journalists instead of protecting public interest.
That is why many people are not seeing this as just one arrest. They are seeing it as another warning sign about the state of press freedom, accountability, and democratic space in the country.