Some concerned citizens have petitioned the Delta State Commissioner of Police, demanding immediate clarification on the whereabouts and release of journalist and activist, Mr. Fejiro Oliver, who has been held in detention under unclear circumstances.
In a letter signed by rights advocates, Omes Ogedegbe, Esq., and Comrade Efemina Umukoro Akima, the petitioners described Oliver’s detention as “incommunicado,” stressing that it violates both the constitution and basic human rights. Oliver is widely known for his investigative reports exposing alleged maladministration in government.
The petitioners recounted that when they visited the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba, officers at the Human Rights Section confirmed that Oliver had been held there before being moved to the Anti-Kidnapping Section.
However, when they inquired at the Anti-Kidnapping Section, officers denied holding him in custody, leaving his current location uncertain and raising fears of enforced disappearance.
According to the petition, such denial of access constitutes a grave violation of fundamental rights and runs contrary to the nation’s laws.
They cited Sections 34, 35, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, emphasizing that Oliver’s continued detention without access to his family or legal representation breaches constitutional safeguards.
The petitioners demanded that the police immediately disclose Oliver’s detention facility, grant him access to legal and medical assistance, and either charge him before a competent court or release him unconditionally.
Failure to comply, they warned, “amounts to unlawful detention, which may prompt urgent legal action and widespread public advocacy.”
In their statement, they wrote: “We write as concerned citizens in company of Comrade Efemina Umukoro Akima, following credible information that our friend, Mr. Fejiro Oliver, a journalist and activist who has consistently exposed acts of maladministration in government, was arrested and is being held incommunicado.
“Upon our arrival at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Asaba, we were informed by officers at the Human Rights Section that he had been detained there but later moved to the Anti-Kidnapping Section. However, at the Anti-Kidnapping Section, we were categorically told he was not in their custody. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
“Sir, this raises serious concern, as the denial of access to his place of detention amounts to enforced disappearance, which is unconstitutional and a violation of fundamental human rights.”
They further quoted constitutional provisions: “Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees the dignity of every person and prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment. Section 35(1) & (2) provides that every person shall be entitled to personal liberty and must be informed promptly of the reasons for his arrest. Section 35(4) mandates that an arrested person shall be brought before a court within a reasonable time, not exceeding 24 or 48 hours depending on the availability of a court. Section 36(1) ensures fair hearing within a reasonable time. Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights protects the right to liberty and security of the person.”
According to them, “In light of the above, we respectfully demand: Immediate disclosure of the exact place of detention of Mr. Fejiro Oliver. Immediate and unfettered access to his lawyers, family, and medical care, and immediate compliance with constitutional provisions by either charging him to court forthwith or releasing him unconditionally.
“Failure to comply with these safeguards amounts to unlawful detention, which may warrant urgent legal action and wide public advocacy. We trust in your prompt intervention to restore public confidence in the Nigerian Police Force and to uphold the rule of law.”
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Chronicles Reporters