Crime/Social Justice
Journalist charged with cyberstalking over criticism of Delta governor, calling Dafinone "Sleeping senator"
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
04 Oct 2025 03:37 PM
Asaba, Delta – A prominent Nigerian journalist, Fejiro Oliver, has been charged with cyberstalking by the Delta State Police Command for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone on social media.
The charges were detailed in a court document posted on X by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong on Saturday, igniting widespread outrage and debates over press freedom in Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Asaba Judicial Division issued the charges, accusing 38-year-old Oliver of publishing content on his Facebook account between May and July 2025 that targeted the officials.
In Count 1, Oliver is alleged to have referred to Senator Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, with terms such as "grossly incompetent senator," "sleeping senator," "betraying ingrate," "Dodo Senator," and "POS Senator," alongside a call for his recall from the Senate.
These statements, according to the charge, were intended to damage Dafinone’s reputation and violate Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.
Count 2 accuses Oliver of further cyberstalking by claiming on Facebook that Dafinone hid school buses and transformers meant for his constituents, accusing him of theft. This, too, is cited as an offense under the same legal provision, with the case dated October 3, 2025, and filed by R.O. Eze, Esq., Legal Officer for the Delta State Police Command.
Oliver, an investigative journalist and chairman of the Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking, was arrested on September 19, 2025, in Abuja by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, acting on orders allegedly linked to Governor Oborevwori.
He was subsequently transferred to Asaba, where he has been detained for over two weeks without bail, despite a Federal High Court order to justify his detention. The arrest follows his critical reporting on governance issues, including allegations of election rigging and mismanagement against Oborevwori, and similar critiques of Dafinone’s performance.
This case echoes a broader trend of using Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act to target journalists. The law, criticized by groups like Amnesty International, has been employed to suppress dissent, with recent amendments failing to fully address concerns over its misuse.
Oliver’s detention aligns with similar incidents, such as the arrest of journalist Daniel Ojukwu in May 2024 for corruption reporting, highlighting a worsening climate for independent journalism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Press freedom advocates are calling for Oliver’s immediate release and a review of the Cybercrime Act to prevent its exploitation against critics.
As the case progresses, it may set a precedent for how far Nigerian authorities can stretch cybercrime laws to silence journalists.
The charges were detailed in a court document posted on X by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong on Saturday, igniting widespread outrage and debates over press freedom in Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Asaba Judicial Division issued the charges, accusing 38-year-old Oliver of publishing content on his Facebook account between May and July 2025 that targeted the officials.
In Count 1, Oliver is alleged to have referred to Senator Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, with terms such as "grossly incompetent senator," "sleeping senator," "betraying ingrate," "Dodo Senator," and "POS Senator," alongside a call for his recall from the Senate.
These statements, according to the charge, were intended to damage Dafinone’s reputation and violate Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.
Count 2 accuses Oliver of further cyberstalking by claiming on Facebook that Dafinone hid school buses and transformers meant for his constituents, accusing him of theft. This, too, is cited as an offense under the same legal provision, with the case dated October 3, 2025, and filed by R.O. Eze, Esq., Legal Officer for the Delta State Police Command.
Oliver, an investigative journalist and chairman of the Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking, was arrested on September 19, 2025, in Abuja by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, acting on orders allegedly linked to Governor Oborevwori.
He was subsequently transferred to Asaba, where he has been detained for over two weeks without bail, despite a Federal High Court order to justify his detention. The arrest follows his critical reporting on governance issues, including allegations of election rigging and mismanagement against Oborevwori, and similar critiques of Dafinone’s performance.
This case echoes a broader trend of using Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act to target journalists. The law, criticized by groups like Amnesty International, has been employed to suppress dissent, with recent amendments failing to fully address concerns over its misuse.
Oliver’s detention aligns with similar incidents, such as the arrest of journalist Daniel Ojukwu in May 2024 for corruption reporting, highlighting a worsening climate for independent journalism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Press freedom advocates are calling for Oliver’s immediate release and a review of the Cybercrime Act to prevent its exploitation against critics.
As the case progresses, it may set a precedent for how far Nigerian authorities can stretch cybercrime laws to silence journalists.
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