When Oghenedoro Tega, better known as Fejiri Oliver, the publisher of Secret Reporters, was hauled from his Abuja office on October 4, 2025, the story quickly turned into a clash between Nigeria’s cyber‑crime laws and its fragile press freedom. The Delta State Police Command filed two criminal counts against him, accusing the journalist of cyberstalking Sheriff Oborevwri, the governor of Delta State, and Senator Ede Dafinone of Delta Central. The charges, lodged at the Federal High Court in Asaba, invoke Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 – a statute that can carry up to N7 million in fines or three years behind bars.
Oliver’s Facebook page, verified and followed by thousands, has long been a hotbed for investigative pieces that rattle the political elite. Between May and August 2025, he posted a series of claims that the governor secretly travelled to Brazil, awarded multimillion‑naira contracts to “his boys,” and dispatched officials to China to inspect CNG buses while allegedly ignoring real investors. A separate thread accused Senator Dafinone of using his senatorial influence to protect corrupt businessmen in the state’s export sector.
Police say the posts were “defamatory and damaging to public officials,” and they presented screenshots of the contentious status updates in the charge sheet dated October 3, 2025. The document, signed by R.O. Eze, legal officer of the Delta State Police Command, argues that the journalist’s intent was to “destroy the reputation” of the two officials.
On the morning of the arrest, officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) descended on Oliver’s modest office in Garki, Abuja, handcuffed him, and flew him south to Asaba. He spent the first night at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) before being shuffled to the anti‑kidnapping unit – a move that raised eyebrows among civil‑society watchdogs who suspect the police are trying to keep him out of court.
Oliver’s counsel, human‑rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong of Inibehe Effiong Chambers, filed a suit against eight respondents, including the governor, the senator, the police commissioner, and the Inspector General of Police. The lawsuit seeks N1 billion in general and exemplary damages for alleged violations of constitutional rights.
In a separate development, the Federal High Court gave the Nigeria Police Force a 48‑hour window to show cause why Oliver should not be released unconditionally after 16 days of detention. The court’s order, however, did not stop the police from plotting a fresh set of “bogus charges” based on petitions filed by former NEXIM executive Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete and Senator Dafinone. A senior police source disclosed that the plan was to file the new charges just before the bail hearing, effectively keeping Oliver behind bars even if a judge granted bail.
Media watchdogs, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, have condemned the case as a textbook example of the cyber‑crime law being weaponised against dissent. "When a journalist can be jailed for naming alleged corruption, it sends a chilling message to every reporter across the country," said a spokesperson for the Union.
Legal scholars point out that the Cybercrime Act was originally crafted to combat online fraud, not to police political commentary. Professor Adebayo Olatunji of the University of Lagos noted, "The language of Section 24 is vague enough that any critical post can be framed as ‘cyberstalking’. This creates a massive over‑reach that infringes on Article 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression."
If Oliver is convicted, the precedent could embolden other state agencies to file similar suits, effectively turning the cyber‑crime law into a censorship tool. Conversely, a swift dismissal by the court could revitalise confidence in the judiciary’s role as a check on executive excess.
International observers, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have flagged the case in their annual report, urging the Nigerian government to review the cyber‑crime legislation. The world’s eyes are now on Asaba as the bail hearing, scheduled for November 12, 2025, approaches.
Three outcomes loom large:
Regardless of the verdict, the saga underscores a growing tension between state security narratives and the public’s right to know.
If Oliver is convicted, it could set a precedent that encourages authorities to use the cyber‑crime law to silence critical reporting, prompting self‑censorship among journalists. A dismissal, however, would reaffirm judicial protection of press freedom.
Police highlighted three Facebook updates: one alleging Governor Oborevwri’s secret trip to Brazil, another accusing him of awarding multibillion‑naira contracts to allies, and a third claiming he sent officials to China to inspect CNG buses while ignoring genuine investors.
The fresh petitions were filed by former NEXIM executive Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete and Senator Ede Dafinone, both alleging personal defamation.
Oliver can appeal any conviction to the Court of Appeal and subsequently to the Supreme Court, arguing that the cyber‑crime provisions infringe on constitutional free‑speech rights. He may also seek a writ of habeas corpus to challenge unlawful detention.
The bail hearing is slated for November 12, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Asaba. A subsequent hearing on the additional charges is expected in early December, pending the court’s timetable.
Terrell Mack
October 7, 2025 AT 23:53Just saw the headlines about Oliver’s detention… it’s wild how quickly the police moved on a journalist who’s been calling out alleged graft. The cyber‑crime law is getting twisted into a tool for silencing dissent, and that’s a red flag for anyone who cares about free speech. I’m rooting for the courts to push back, because letting this slide would set a nasty precedent. Keep an eye on the bail hearing; it could be a turning point for press freedom. The media community should rally together and make sure the story stays in the public eye.