Fejiro Oliver Arraigned Over Cybercrime Offenses Against Dafinone

A Federal High Court, Asaba Judicial Division, has arraigned investigative journalist Tega Oghenedoro, popularly known as Fejiro Oliver on multiple charges stemming from alleged cybercrime offences related to critical social media posts directed at Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central Senatorial District.

Oghenedoro, the Editor-in-Chief of Secret Reporters and a well-known critic of politicians, is accused of violating sections of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, following a series of Facebook posts where he allegedly described Dafinone as a “scam in NASS” “grossly incompetent senator,” “POS senator,” and “betraying ingrate.”

The police also filed additional charges against Oliver for accusing Dafinone of stealing buses and transformers meant for his constituents and initiating a public recall of Senator Dafinone from the National Assembly.

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who is representing Oliver, has condemned the charges as an attack on press freedom and free expression, arguing that the journalist merely exercised his constitutional right to criticize elected officials.

Effiong noted that Oliver was arrested on September 18, 2025, and detained for more than two weeks before the Federal High Court, Asaba, ordered the police to provide legal justification for his continued detention on October 2. The formal charges were subsequently filed on October 3, 2025.

The case has since sparked national debate amongst activists and media advocates over the use of cyberstalking laws, with some describing it as a tool to gag dissenting voices in Nigeria while some view the laws as a shield of protection against baseless accusations and defamation.