Delta Government files fresh criminal charges against investigative journalist FEJIRO OLIVER over alleged defamation

Monday, October 27, 2025 - The Delta State Attorney General, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN has filed fresh criminal charges against investigative journalist and activist, Oghenetega Oghenedoro, popularly known as Fejiro Oliver, over allegations of defamation, cyberstalking, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

According to  SaharaReporters on Sunday, the new charges were filed at the Magistrate Court 3 in Asaba and assigned to Magistrate Nkechi Edith Anumadu, reportedly a preferred choice of the prosecution.

The cases, titled Criminal Defamation of Character and Cyberstalking of Hon. Stella Okotete by Fejiro Oliver and Complaint of Cyberstalking, Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of the Public Peace, Defamation, and Publication of Injurious Falsehood Against Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas by Fejiro Oliver, were initiated separately by the two public figures.

His lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, disclosed that Fejiro Oliver is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday before Magistrate Anumadu in Asaba.

The Count 1 of the charge read, "That you TEGA SAMSON OGHENEDORO (alias Fejiro Oliver) 'M', between the months of February and May, 2025, in Asaba within Asaba Magisterial District, with intent to injure the reputation of Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District in the Nigeria Senate, by exposing him to public hatred and ridicule, made publications on your Facebook (Meta) account, with the name "Fejiro Oliver", by calling Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas different demeaning and ridiculous names like "blockhead Senator", "politically useless", knowing the publications to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

Also, the Count II read, "That you TEGA SAMSON OGHENEDORO (alias Fejiro Oliver) 'M', between the months of February and May, 2025, in Asaba within Asaba Magisterial District, with intent to injure the reputation of Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas representing Delta South Senatorial District in the Nigeria Senate, by exposing him to public hatred and ridicule, made publications on your Facebook (Meta) account, with the name "Fejiro Oliver", by stating that Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas electoral victory was the product of manipulation and fraud when you posted, "Your son Joel Onowakpor... push by DSP Ovie Omo-Agege to be forcefully installed as a Senator today,...", "Joel do not have capacity to play Federal politics", "election wey make Joel faint for church knowing he had already lost woefully...", knowing the publications to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006."

In the charge filed by Senator Joel Onowakpo, the lawmaker alleged that on February 21, 2025, Oliver made a widely circulated Facebook post in which he referred to him and other senators as “super illiterate senators,” and mocked his performance in legislative duties, portraying him as incompetent and unfit for office.

Similarly, in the case brought by Hon. Stella Okotete, the politician accused Oliver of describing her as a certificate forger and using other “unprintable” words against her. 

She alleged that the journalist portrayed her as arrogant, ungrateful, corrupt, and as someone who grants loans indiscriminately to unqualified persons.

Fejiro Oliver, a well-known journalist and critic of political corruption, has faced multiple legal battles in recent months over his hard-hitting investigative reports.

On October 19, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that abuse of judicial process was brewing in Delta State as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Attorney General, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, were accused of plotting to frustrate the release of Fejiro Oliver, despite his bail granted by the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba.

Fejiro Oliver, publisher of Secret Reporters, an online investigative platform known for exposing corruption and abuse of power among public officials, was arrested on September 18, 2025, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

His arrest, sources said, followed a petition reportedly written by Governor Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, accusing the journalist of cyberstalking and defamation.

After being held in police custody for 21 days without trial, Oliver was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Asaba, on October 9, 2025, presided over by Hon. Justice Olufunmilola A. Agbaje.

The journalist pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following arguments from both counsels, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, and his co-counsel, Austin Nyekigbe Esq., Justice Agbaje delivered a ruling on October 16, 2025, granting bail to Oliver on terms considered fair and in line with constitutional provisions.

Credible sources indicate that the Delta State Governor has directed his Attorney General to do everything possible to obstruct the federal judge’s bail ruling.

“To achieve this plot, the Attorney General’s office has filed fresh charges against the journalist at a Magistrate’s Court in Asaba with the sole aim of preventing Fejiro’s release after fulfilling the bail conditions set by the Federal High Court,” a source said.

“Disappointed by the bail granted to the journalist last Thursday, the Ministry of Justice headed by the Attorney General of Delta State, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, immediately scouted for a willing Magistrate to handle the fresh charges.”

Sources close to the Delta State Attorney General had revealed that a state magistrate, Mrs. Nkechi Edith Anumadu, was assigned to oversee the new charges, with the alleged aim of keeping the journalist in detention for an extended period.

According to the sources, the magistrate promptly issued an order directing the Nigerian Correctional Service to present Fejiro before her court on Monday, 20 October 2025.