The Federal High Court has granted bail to journalist and human rights activist Fejiro Oliver, with clear directives from the presiding judge that the surety documents be verified by three authorities — the Court’s Registrar, the Police Prosecutor, and the Ministry of Lands — to confirm that the property offered as surety is duly registered with the Delta State Government.
While both the Court and the Police have fulfilled their parts—verifying the property valued at ₦15 million—the Delta State Ministry of Lands and Housing has inexplicably refused to open the verification file since it was submitted last Tuesday.
Disturbingly, credible information suggests that a directive from the State Government ordered the Ministry not to process the verification, effectively frustrating the release of Fejiro Oliver despite a valid court order granting him bail.
This blatant disregard for the rule of law is a sad reflection of the state of governance in Delta State. The critical questions that must be asked are:
Who is afraid of Fejiro Oliver?
Why the desperate attempt to keep him behind bars despite a lawful order of the court?
We therefore call on the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Delta State, to immediately do the needful and ensure that the rule of law prevails.
It is equally disturbing that a Magistrate Court earlier issued a warrant for Fejiro’s production in Magistrate Court 3, yet he was never produced. Even more troubling is the fact that the matter was not listed in the court’s cause list, and the Magistrate raised no reproach upon discovering this omission. Such silence and procedural neglect undermine confidence in our justice system.
We cannot continue like this. The Ministry must either confirm or decline the verification — but it must act. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Omes Ogedegbe, Esq.
Director General,
Confab for the Actualization of Human Rights