WikkiTimes Publisher Addresses Washington D.C. Global Summit on Criminalization of Free Information
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Haruna Mohammed Salisu, the investigative journalist and publisher of Nigeria’s WikkiTimes, has been confirmed as a headline speaker for Sunshine Fest 2026. The premier international conference, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, will bring together global transparency advocates, legal experts, and newsroom leaders at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.
Mohammed is scheduled to participate in a high-stakes panel titled “Criminalizing FOI” on Monday, March 16, 2026. The session will examine a disturbing global trend: the use of criminal charges, arrests, and vexatious lawsuits by state actors to punish those who request public records or publish accountability reports.
The SLAPP Threat: A Nigerian Perspective
Mohammed’s contribution is rooted in his frontline experience as the founder of WikkiTimes, a digital newsroom that has become a critical watchdog in Northern Nigeria’s often-underreported regions. His reporting on illegal mining, corruption, and terrorism financing has led to an onslaught of retaliation.
Since 2020, WikkiTimes has faced at least nine Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) intended to drain the outlet’s resources and silence its reporters. These suits are often timed to coincide with major investigations; for instance, following one high-profile story, the newsroom’s website suffered over 400 coordinated cyber-attacks within just 48 hours. Mohammed himself has faced multiple detentions and physical threats, experiences that now shape both his journalism and his current academic research at Indiana University.
A Global Action Plan for Transparency
Sunshine Fest 2026 brings together a cross-section of leading transparency advocates. Mohammed will share the stage with prominent figures in the field, including:
* David Cuillier, Director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.
* Nate Jones, FOIA Director for The Washington Post.
* Jason Leopold, an investigative reporter at Bloomberg News known for his extensive use of records requests.
* Frank LoMonte, Newsroom Legal Counsel at CNN.
* Shelley Kimball, Associate Communication Program Director at Johns Hopkins University.
Watchdog Journalism Under Fire
Currently serving as a graduate teaching assistant at Indiana University, Mohammed focuses his research on media law, newsroom sustainability, and the legal mechanisms used to suppress the press. His outlet, WikkiTimes, recently made history as the first Nigerian media organization to join Reporters Shield, a global legal defense fund designed to protect investigative journalists from the very “criminalization” he will be addressing in Washington.
The conference aims to produce a concrete action plan to be implemented post-event, ensuring that the act of seeking truth remains a protected right rather than a criminal offense in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of 2026.
By PRNigeria
