Defamation Charges: Magistrate Courts grant Fejiro Oliver bail, case adjourned to Nov 4th

Two Magistrate Courts sitting in Asaba, Delta State have granted Investigative journalist and Secret Reporters publisher, Fejiro Oliver
bail over two fresh defamation charges filed against him by the state government.

The new cases, marked CMA/529C/2025 and CMA/530C/2025, were filed through the Attorney General of Delta State.

In the first case, Fejiro was accused of defaming Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South Senatorial District) by calling him a “Blockhead Senator” and “Politically useless” in a social media post.

In the second, he was accused of publishing a similarly critical post about Stella Okotete, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), describing her as a rejected ministerial nominee of President Bola Tinubu.

The two different Magistrates presiding over the matters granted Oliver bail under strict conditions and adjourned the matter to 4th November, 2025.

At the Magistrate Court 3, presided over by Magistrate Edith Nkechi Anumadu, Fejiro was granted bail with conditions to be met. Moments later, Magistrate Patricia Onyeisi Okoh of Court 2 also granted bail to Fejiro in the second case concerning Okotete with conditions to be met.

The conditions required first surety to have landed property within jurisdiction, deposit of his international passport while the second surety must be a close relative of the defendant.

Austin Nyekigbe, Esq, representing the defence team led by Inibehe Effiong, Esq. argued that the charges were bailable, unjustified while describing Oliver as responsible, an employer, entitled to freedom of speech that was not defaming or derogatory and would not jump bail.

For the prosecution, A. O. Orhorhoro, Esq., the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), appeared with T. R. Anuhwin, Esq., both from the Delta State Ministry of Justice, who argued that Fejiro was a security risk, flight threat, blackmailer, abused his freedom of speech and should not be granted bail.

Orhorhoro had argued that freedom of expression does not permit deliberate blackmail and defamation of fellow citizens or politically exposed persons like Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and others.

According to him, freedom of expression isn’t absolute; it’s a right that comes with responsibilities and limitations that must be exercised with respect for laws, individual rights and the rule of law.

In an interview, Nyekigbe said the development was a mark of hope for common man, and Fejiro would soon be a free man as court has discharged him, thanking the Magistrate for granting accelerated hearing while he assured of perfecting the bail immediately.

Though bail was granted in both cases, Fejiro remains in detention pending verification of his documents, a process that has been allegedly stalled for weeks by the state Ministry of Lands.

Meanwhile, a renowned human rights crusader, Omes Ogedegbe, described the development as “a shameful abuse of state power.”

“Fejiro Oliver has fulfilled all legal obligations for his release. The Ministry of Lands has deliberately refused to verify his documents for reasons that have nothing to do with law and everything to do with politics. This is persecution, not prosecution.”

Similarly, the Centre for Civic Liberty and Media Accountability (CCLMA), in a statement on Monday, condemned the continuous intimidation of Fejiro Oliver and other journalists investigating public officials.

Mrs Grace Umukoro, spokesperson of the group, said: “We strongly condemn the siege-like atmosphere that greets Fejiro’s court appearances. The Delta State Government must ensure his safety and allow due process to take its course.

“Silencing journalists through administrative delay or intimidation, undermines the very foundation of democracy. Fejiro Oliver’s situation highlights a growing tension between press freedom and political power in Nigeria’s democracy” the statement said.

With four active cases against Oliver in less than two months, observers fear his prosecution could become a test case for how far the Nigerian justice system will go to protect or punish critical voices.

Recall that Fejiro was previously arraigned by the Inspector-General of Police before the Federal High Court in Asaba on charges of cyber stalking Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central in the Senate