By Palang Paul
The Coalition of Digital Press Association and the Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO) have strongly condemned the continued detention and prosecution of journalist and socio-political activist, Fejiro Oliver, describing his ordeal as a blatant attack on press freedom and democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the National Coordinator of YNRO, Comrade Victor Ojei, popularly known as Wong Box Nigeria, the coalition decried the “misuse and weaponization” of the Cybercrime Act, particularly Section 24, to silence journalists and critics of government.
Fejiro Oliver, a well-known investigative journalist and social critic, is currently facing prosecution over a series of Facebook posts deemed critical of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone. The coalition insists that his prosecution is politically motivated and unconstitutional.
> “Journalism is not a crime. Speaking truth to power is not cyberstalking,” said Comrade Ojei. “This is not just about Fejiro Oliver—it’s about every Nigerian’s right to express truth and hold leaders accountable.”
The coalition cited several landmark judgments from Nigerian and regional courts that have repeatedly nullified similar applications of the Cybercrime Act against journalists and activists. Among them are Okedara v. Attorney General of the Federation (2018), where Section 24(1)(b) was ruled unconstitutional, and Sowore v. Federal Government of Nigeria (2019), which upheld the right to free speech and political criticism as protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
Also referenced were Media Rights Agenda v. Nigeria (2024), where the court reaffirmed the duty of the state to protect journalists, Queeneth Oboh v. IGP (2021) protecting media freedom from cybercrime abuse, and SERAP v. FRN (ECOWAS Court, 2018) which held that criminalizing speech violates human rights.
The coalition further reminded authorities of the Constitutional Rights Project v. Nigeria judgment under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which prohibits the suppression of the press and free expression.
Comrade Ojei called on the federal government and relevant agencies to “respect the rule of law, comply with judicial precedents, and immediately drop all charges against Fejiro Oliver.”
> “We will continue to resist every attempt to silence journalists in Nigeria. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy, and we will not allow tyranny to hide behind the guise of the Cybercrime Act,” he declared.
The statement ended with renewed calls for solidarity across the media and civil society spaces, urging journalists, activists, and citizens to unite
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