There was tension on Thursday at the Abuja office of investigative journalist, Fejiro Oliver, after four policemen from the Force Investigation Bureau (FIB) reportedly laid siege to the building in what appears to be another attempt to arrest him.
Residents who witnessed the incident told this newspaper that the officers, dressed in plain clothes, claimed they were acting on a court warrant. However, they allegedly failed to present any documentation when asked by neighbours and estate security personnel.
“They said they had a warrant, but nobody saw anything. Not even the estate security,” a resident said.
According to another witness, the officers eventually left the area after checking the premises and not finding Oliver’s vehicle.
“They told security personnel they came for Mr. Oliver. But when they didn’t see his car in the garage, the senior officer asked them to leave, saying it meant he wasn’t around,” the resident recounted.
One of the officers, according to multiple witnesses, stated that the team would continue tracking the journalist until they “catch him.”
Speaking by phone after the incident, Oliver, who confirmed he had returned to Abuja, described the latest development as a clear attempt to silence him.
“This is a witch-hunt, and I fear for my life,” he said. “I will go to the Police Headquarters myself tomorrow.”
Oliver has been entangled in a series of legal and security battles in recent months. Earlier on Thursday, he was at the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, where he is facing two separate defamation cases brought by the police on behalf of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone.
A day earlier, he appeared before Magistrate Patricia Onyeisi Okoh over another defamation suit filed by Stella Okotete, a politician whose ministerial nomination was previously rejected by the Senate following allegations of certificate fraud.
His lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, urged the magistrate court to merge Okotete’s matter in Court 2 with a similar defamation case in Court 3 involving lawmaker Joel Thomas Onowakpor, arguing that both suits stem from the same allegations. The court scheduled further hearing for December 9, 2025.
In court on Thursday to show support for Oliver was former Delta State Attorney-General, Peter Mrakpor (SAN). POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Oliver’s Ordeal began in September when he was forcibly taken from his Abuja office by policemen and transferred to Delta State allegedly on the orders of Governor Oborevwori.
He was held in police custody for weeks before being arraigned and later remanded in prison. His release came only after activists and civil society groups mounted pressure and he met his bail conditions.
