Yomi John Olomofe was looking into allegations of smuggling among Nigerian customs officials when he was beaten and left in a coma last June.

"While beating me, they threatened to kill me so as to serve as a deterrent to journalists writing stories about them," he said after the ordeal, which left him physically and emotionally scarred.

 Olomofe had joined an investigation being carried out by McDominic Nkpemiyie, the Lagos correspondent of state-owned Tide Newspapers, who was also injured in the attack.

Pictures of Olomofe’s injuries were circulated on social media and when a few weeks later he appeared on Channel S TV to discuss his experience, he had to wear dark glasses because his eyes were still badly damaged.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) filed a case to the Lagos state federal court on the grounds that his human rights had been compromised, asking for 500m naira (£1.7m) worth of damages from the customs department. The case is due to begin next week.

 “It [is] unfortunate that journalists who played a prominent role in the return of democracy to the country have continued to be battered by security agents and the powers that be,”  

The head of the NUJ in Lagos urged other journalists to support Olomofe’s quest for justice, adding that “an injury to one is injury to all”

Reporters Without Borders ranks Nigeria 122 out of 145 countries, describing the country as a “news black hole”.

He was recently interviewed by the guardian Newspaper via Twitter:

On being asked if he was being supported by relevant authorities he replied:

“Yes. I must acknowledge with deep gratitude the role of The Nigeria Union of Journalists. They have been wonderful to me. There is also the invaluable support I am getting from the committee to protect journalists. The Lagos state government have also put some of its legal organs at my disposal. A lot of other groups have expressed outrage at the assault, expressing the hope that justice will be served.”

How does corruption in Nigeria compare to other countries in Africa?

Compared to other African, even non-African nations, Nigeria is not the most corrupt. Our problem is largely one of stigma and a bald absence of a national vision. Bad as things may appear here, we still do a lot of things right. We have surpassed the class of African countries that have presidents for life.

Why were you investigating customs involvement in smuggling when the corruption that most affects Nigeria is amongst the political elite? Was it because you would be killed rather than just beaten up if you did this?

Nobody involved in any corrupt act will fold his arm and willingly allow exposure so there are high intrinsic risks involved in reporting crime. Corruption is a criminal act. It is a clear fact that almost every criminal act requires some collaboration on the part of those entrusted with sensitive roles. Nigeria’s economy is import driven. Which leaves it vulnerable to those who are criminally minded. These folks and their partners, local and foreign, will do anything to keep their criminal acts going.

Would you advise others to emulate you in undertaking anti-corruption exposes?

Corruption is a global malady. It is just more nuanced in certain countries than others. Corruption is a cankerworm that must be confronted head on by all people of goodwill and the fight against it must be embraced by all, especially foreign collaborators.