By Austin Ogwuda
… denies ever ordering his arrest and detention, saying, there is no tissue of evidence to show that claim
Contrary to wide spread speculations allegedly accusing the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for ordering the Police to arrest Fejiro Oliver, the governor has denied the claim even as he told the court that the N1 billion suit filed against him by Fejiro Oliver was in contravention of the Immunity Clause in the Construction.
He made the clarification while responding to the N1 billion lawsuit Fejiro Oliver filed against him as well as Senator Ede Dafinone, and Stella Okotete, the Executive Director (Business Development) of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), at the Federal High Court 2, Asaba on alleged violation of his (Oliver) fundamental rights.
Oliver, through his Counsel/Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Esq. of Inibehe Effiong Chambers, Abuja filed the suit on behalf of Fejiro Oliver.
Also joined as Co- Respondents in the suit marked ASAB/CS/164/2025, filed to enforce his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, privacy, and freedom of movement are : the Inspector-General of Police, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), DCP Adegoke Alani, and CSP Solomon Nwokolo of the State Police command.
In a counter affidavit filed on October 8, 2025 by Governor Oborevwori (1st respondent) in opposition to Oliver’s (applicant’s) originating Motion on Notice, the governor denied ordering the arrest and detention of Oliver.
The counter affidavit obtained by SaharaReporters, signed on behalf of the governor by Oghenechavwuko Agbatutu, senior State counsel in the chambers of the Attorney General and commissioner for justice, Delta State, read as follows:
“Oghenechavwuko Agbatutu, Senior State counsel in the chambers of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, do hereby make oath and state as follows:
“I have the consent and authority of my principal and 1st respondent (Governor) to depose to this counter affidavit in opposition to the applicant’s application, I have also carefully read the application and the attached affidavit.
“The 1st respondent was shown the applicant’s application and the accompanying affidavit at his office at the Government House Asaba, Delta State on the 4th day of October, 2025. Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the applicant’s affidavit are untrue.
“As to paragraph 14 (e) of the affidavit in support of the application, the 1st respondent did not order, instigate or commence any process leading to the arrest and detention of the applicant. As to paragraph 14 (j) of the affidavit in support of the application, the 1st respondent did not instigate or cause the police to arrest and detain the applicant as alleged.
“The applicant is based overseas and from there makes publications to incite violence against government officials.
The applicant contends that this suit was instituted against him in his personal capacity in contravention of the immunity granted to him by the Constitution. I swear to this Oath conscientiously believing same to be true and in accordance with the oath Act.”
Also in the Governor Oborevwori’s (1st Respondent) Written Address filed in October, 8, 2025 obtained by SaharaReporters, signed by his counsels, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole SAN, Omamuzo Erebe SAN, Solicitor General), Sunday Monye Esq (Director, Civil Litigation) and others, in opposition to the applicant’s originating motion read as follows:
“My Lord, this written address is in opposition to the applicant’s originating motion on notice seeking the reliefs set out in the motion paper. The summary of the facts is that the applicant whimsically alleged that he was arrested and detained at the instigation of the 1st respondent. The 1st respondent denied the claim and in that regard, we are replying on the 9 paragraph of the counter affidavit deposed to be one Oghenechavwuko Agbatutu, Senior State Counsel in the Chambers of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State.
“We respectfully submitted that by a totality of the facts before this Honourable court, the 1st respondent did not infringe on the fundamental rights of the applicant. There is nothing before the Honourable court to show that the 1st respondent commenced, instigated or employed the Police to arrest and detain the applicant.
“My Lord, it is trite that an allegation of a breach of fundamental rights is determined based on affidavit evidence set before the court. In that wise, it is our contention that a careful perusal of the affidavit before your Lordship will show that the grouse of the applicant against the 1st respondent is in paragraph 14 (e) of the applicant’s affidavit in support of his application without more.
“My Lordship, while we contended that the 1st respondent was not privy to the facts or petition resulting in the arrest and detention of the applicant, we submit most respectfully that it is the duty of citizens to report allegations of crimes to the police for investigation, and what happens after such a report is entirely the responsibility of the police.
“The citizens cannot be held culpable for performing this civic duty, except it is shown to be done mala fide. We therefore humbly submit that the fundamental rights of the applicant have not be infringed by the 1st respondent in any way and pray your Lordship to so hold.
“My Lord, there is no tissue of evidence to show that the alleged arrest and detention of the applicant was at the instance of the 1st respondent.
“We urge this Honourable court to hold that there is no cogent evidence of fact before this court to show that the 1st respondent breached the fundamental rights of the applicant as erroneously claimed”.
The Court presided over by Justice Olufunmilola A. Agbaje adjourned further hearing to November 4, 2025.
Oliver was arrested on the 19th of September, 2025.
He was picked up from his office in Garki, Abuja, taken to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), and later moved to the airport for onward transfer to Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Inspector General of Police had last week instituted a case against Oliver over allegations of cyberstalking Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, through a series of Facebook posts the police described as defamatory.
The Police had however amended its two separate counts against him filed in a suit marked FHC/ASB/163c/2025, signed by CSP Gladys Imegu, Esq., R.O. Eze, Esq., and Dr. R.O. Ishiguzo.
Following arguments on the bail applications in the case, the presiding judge, Justice Olufunmilola A. Agbaje, adjourned the matter to October 16, 2025, for ruling on the pending applications and ordered Oliver’s remand at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre.
*Source: SaharaReporters
