A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has given the Nigeria Police Force 48 hours to justify the continued detention of Delta-born investigative journalist, Tega Oghenedoro, popularly known as Fejiro Oliver, who has spent over two weeks in custody on allegations of cyberstalking.
The order, issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, by Justice F. A. Olubanjo, followed an ex parte application filed by Fejiro’s legal team led by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong.
Fejiro, the editor of the online news platform Secret Reporters, was arrested on September 18, 2025, at his Abuja office and flown to Asaba after a petition was reportedly filed against him by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
According to reports, Governor Oborevwori accused the journalist of consistently publishing “defamatory” materials against him, including social media posts referring to him as “Governor Sheriff Amuneke of Delta State.”
Other notable figures alleged to have submitted petitions against the journalist include Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central Senatorial District) and Hon. Stella Oketete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), whose ministerial nomination by President Bola Tinubu was earlier rejected by the Senate.
Fejiro has remained in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Asaba, for 16 days without being formally charged. His lawyers, Inibehe Effiong and Austin Nyekigbe, who also serves as the Secretary of the Udu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), told the court that the police have denied him access to his lawyers and family since his arrest.
After listening to the submissions, Justice Olubanjo directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State CID, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command (CP Olufemi Abaniwonda), the Inspector General of Police (IGP Kayode Egbetokun), and the Nigeria Police Force to show cause within 48 hours why Fejiro should not be released unconditionally.
The court’s order has already been served on the police authorities and Governor Oborevwori.
The case, marked Suit No: FHC/ASB/CS/164/2025, has been adjourned to October 9, 2025, for hearing.
Fejiro Oliver, known for his hard-hitting reports and fearless criticism of public officials, has previously faced multiple arrests over his journalistic activities. His detention has continued to draw widespread condemnation from media and human rights groups, who describe it as a threat to press freedom and free expression in Nigeria.
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