In a fresh and desperate move to silence one of its most vocal critics, the Delta State Government has secured a warrant from Magistrate Court 3, Asaba, to arraign investigative journalist and activist, Oghenetega Oghenedoro, popularly known as Fejiro Oliver, on charges for which he had been granted bail.
The move comes days after the government failed to secure its preferred bail conditions at the Federal High Court, prompting what human rights groups say is a calculated shift to the Magistrate Court to impose stricter, fear-inducing bail terms.
According to court documents seen by journalists, the new case titled State (Gov. Sheriff) vs. Fejiro Oliver was filed on October 17, 2025. Oliver is scheduled to appear before Her Worship Edith Nkechi Anumadu on Monday, October 20, for arraignment.
Civil society groups allege the state intends to use the court to impose bail conditions requiring civil servants to stand as sureties—a condition many describe as “intimidating and deliberately punitive,” given the fear of victimisation among public workers.
“This is not about justice; it’s about silencing dissent,” a rights activist based in Asaba said. Adding that, “The state is using the judiciary as a tool to scare civil servants and keep Fejiro Oliver behind bars simply for doing his job.”
Oliver, widely known as the “Voice of the Masses” and self-styled “Five Star General Prisoner of Conscience,” has consistently exposed alleged corruption and abuse of power in Delta State. His fearless reporting has made him a folk hero among the public—and a perceived threat within government circles.
The latest development has sparked renewed concern over judicial independence, with activists urging the courts not to become instruments of political intimidation.
“Fejiro’s persecution is a test of the judiciary’s integrity,” said one of his supporters. “Power is temporary, but truth and justice are eternal.”
The arraignment is expected to draw significant attention from rights organisations, legal observers, and concerned citizens, as fears grow over what many see as shrinking civic space in Delta State.
Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe, has criticised the Delta State Government over the fresh arraignment of investigative journalist Fejiro Oliver, describing it as a blatant abuse of court process and an act of “vindictiveness taken too far.”
Ogedegbe, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday, said the move to arraign Oliver at the Magistrate Court while he is already standing trial at the Federal High Court amounts to subjecting him to double jeopardy — a practice prohibited by the Nigerian Constitution.
“By settled principles of law, a defendant cannot be subjected to multiple criminal trials on the same facts or substantially the same offence,” Ogedegbe said.
He referenced landmark Supreme Court decisions including Saraki v. FRN (2016) and A.G. Ondo State v. A.G. Federation (2002), which warned against the misuse of judicial processes for personal or political purposes.
“Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is clear — no person shall again be tried for an offence for which he has already been tried by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he added.
The lawyer questioned the motive behind the new charges filed against Oliver at the Magistrate Court in Asaba on October 17, 2025, saying it raises serious concerns about political interference in the judiciary.
“Before we draw conclusions, we must ask: who is the complainant before the Federal High Court? Is it the same complainant behind this fresh charge at the Magistrate Court? If so, this is not just a legal blunder — it is persecution,” he said.
Ogedegbe warned against using the courts as tools for political vendetta, stressing that the judiciary must remain impartial and uphold its role as the last hope of the common man.
“No individual, no matter how powerful, has the right to manipulate the judicial system to settle personal scores. The courts should not be reduced to instruments of intimidation,” he stated.
Fejiro Oliver, known for his investigative work and criticism of government policies, is currently facing trial at the Federal High Court. Rights groups have described his latest arraignment as a “deliberate attempt to gag a dissenting voice.”
The Delta State Government has yet to issue an official response to the mounting criticism and decision to file same charges which Fejiro Oliver had been granted bail for at the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba.
