Anti-graft body demands release of journalist whisked away from Abuja

…Alleges apprehension was politically motivated

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking (NACAT) has demanded the contiguous and unconditional merchandise of its Chairman, Mr Fejiro Oliver, an investigative journalist, who was arrested successful Abuja and transferred to Delta State, describing the enactment arsenic unlawful and politically motivated.

In a connection signed by its Operations Manager, Mr Stanley Ugagbe, NACAT alleged that Oliver was forcefully taken into custody by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force connected Thursday, and moved to Asaba, wherever helium is being held astatine the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

“It should beryllium noted that Mr Oliver was forcefully arrested connected Thursday, September 18, 2025, successful Abuja. In a disturbing show of enforcement overreach, helium was instantly transferred to Asaba, Delta State, wherever helium is presently being illegally detained astatine the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) successful the midst of hardened criminals and suspected kidnappers,” the connection read.

The radical stressed that Oliver’s continued detention amounted to an battle connected civilian liberties and ideology successful Nigeria.

“Fejiro Oliver is not a criminal, helium is simply a courageous journalist, whistleblower, and anti-corruption advocator whose tireless enactment has exposed high-level graft, maltreatment of office, and organised transgression networks crossed Nigeria. This crude effort to soundlessness him is not conscionable an onslaught connected an individual, but a nonstop battle connected civilian liberties, state of look and the psyche of Nigeria’s democracy,” NACAT said.

The organisation further faulted the Nigerian Police Force for what it described arsenic complicity successful governmental persecution.

“The mode of his apprehension devoid of transparency, legality, and accountability is emblematic of a disturbing trend: wherever authorities powerfulness is being weaponised by elected officials to soundlessness dissent, punish truth-tellers, and support corruption astatine the highest levels. The Nigerian Police Force, by allowing itself to beryllium utilized arsenic a governmental onslaught dog, is complicit,” it stated.

According to NACAT, Oliver’s lawsuit has go a trial of Nigeria’s respect for justice, quality rights, and the regularisation of law.

“The continued detention of Fejiro Oliver is simply a litmus trial for Nigeria’s committedness to justice, the regularisation of law, and quality rights,” the radical declared.

It called connected Nigerians, the media, civilian society, quality rights defenders, and the planetary assemblage to emergence successful defence of escaped code and accountability.

“We telephone connected each Nigerians, the media, civilian society, quality rights defenders, and the planetary community, to emergence successful defence of justness and clasp those liable to account. This is not conscionable astir Fejiro Oliver, this is astir the aboriginal of escaped code and accountability successful Nigeria,” the connection added.

The station Anti-graft assemblage demands merchandise of writer whisked distant from Abuja appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.