The Delta State government will on Tuesday, October 28, arraign investigative journalist Tega Oghenedoro, popularly known as Fejiro Oliver, before Magistrate Nkechi Edith Anumadu of the Asaba Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Oliver is to be arraigned over alleged defamation of Senator Joel Onowakpo, representing Delta South Senatorial District, and Stella Okotete, executive director at the Nigeria Export and Import Bank (NEXIM).

The journalist is currently being detained at a correctional facility in Delta State following his arraignment in court over petitions filed by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone. The police had arrested him in Abuja in September.

Documents obtained by Peoples Gazette show that Mr Oliver was supposed to have been arraigned on the fresh charges on Monday, October 20, but the magistrate, Mrs Anumadu, omitted his case from the day’s cause list.

The journalist is facing fresh charges bordering on alleged criminal defamation under Section 375 of the Delta State Criminal Code Law, 2006. The charges emanated from separate petitions submitted to the police by Mr Onowakpo and Mrs Okotete.

In the new charges, the Delta State government accused Mr Oliver of using his Facebook account to publish posts that “exposed the complainants to public hatred and ridicule,” alleging corruption and electoral malpractice. The charges were dated October 16, 2025, and signed by a legal officer at the Delta State Ministry of Justice.

A warrant issued on October 17 directed prison authorities to produce Mr Oliver in court for arraignment.

Counsel to Mrs Okotete, Ethiope Barristers and Solicitors, in a petition dated September 22, 2025, submitted to the Delta State Police Command, accused Mr Oliver of attempting to ruin their client’s reputation.

“In a well-circulated publication of 8th of February 2025 and 27th March 2025, among other malicious statements against our client, which he has deleted, the said Fejiro Oliver defamed our client by describing her as a certificate forger and other unprintable names such as being arrogant and ungrateful,” the petitioner alleged.

Ms Okotete said she was portrayed as corrupt and as awarding loans indiscriminately to persons who are not qualified. The petitioner also alleged that Mr Oliver continued to use defamatory words that damaged her reputation, prestige, and character.

Meanwhile, in Mr Onowakpo’s petition, written and submitted to the Commissioner of Police by his counsel, T.O.T Okuhu and associates, the senator accused Mr Oliver of cyberstalking, conduct likely to cause breach of the public peace, and publication of injurious falsehoods.

Mr Onowakpo alleged that Mr Oliver embarked on and continued a sustained campaign of calumny against him through multiple Facebook posts and other social media platforms.

He further accused Mr Oliver of making several false, malicious, and defamatory statements against him, all to cause fear, alarm, and public ridicule against him.

The petitioner stated, “For instance, on 21st February, 2025 , in a widely circulated Facebook post, Fejiro Oliver mocked our client’s record and referred to him and other senators as super illiterate senators. He further ridiculed our client’s role in legislative matters, presenting him as incompetent and unfit.”

“On 26th February, 2025, Fejiro Oliver ridiculed our client by writing, ‘Senator Joel Onowakpo carry last as usual for this one,’ mocking his contributions in the senate and presenting him as ineffective and unserious,” the petitioner alleged.