Two different Magistrate Courts sitting in Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, granted bail to investigative journalist Fejiro Oliver in connection with two new defamation charges instituted against him by the Delta State Government.
The cases, marked Charge No: CMA/529C/2025 and Charge No: CMA/530C/2025, were filed by the Attorney General of Delta State on behalf of the government. Oliver, the publisher of the online news platform Secret Reporters, is accused of publishing allegedly defamatory content against prominent political figures in the state.
In the first charge, the journalist allegedly described Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, as a “Blockhead Senator” and “Politically useless”, remarks the prosecution claims were intended to injure the senator’s reputation.
The second charge concerns statements purportedly made against Stella Okotete, Executive Director at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and a former ministerial nominee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate earlier in 2025.
During Tuesday’s court session, Austin Nyekigbe, Esq., appeared for the defence team led by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, Esq., while the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), A.O. Orhorhoro, Esq., represented the state alongside T.R. Anuhwin, Esq.
This development comes just weeks after Oliver was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Asaba, by the Inspector General of Police on separate cyberstalking charges involving Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone of Delta Central.
Following his September 18, 2025 arrest, the journalist now faces four separate criminal cases pending before various courts in Delta State.
Although bail was granted in both new cases, Oliver remains in custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions, as legal proceedings continue.
Read also: Fejiro Oliver Scheduled to Appear Before Magistrate Court Judge on Monday
