LAGOS SEPTEMBER 23RD (URHOBOTODAY)-The Missing journalist, Mr Fejiro Oliver is being detained by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) attached to Niger State in Minna through the order of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu with false allegation of extortion of N50m, Elombah.com has learnt.
Sources within the Intelligence Agency said Fejiro Oliver is in their custody and will be charged with attempt to extort 50 million Naira from Niger State Government.
Mr Oliver was abducted on Saturday, September 20 during a proposed meeting with the Secretary to Niger State Government (SSG).
Elombah.com, however, was informed that the charge of extortion is an afterthought as no monetary issue was ever raised before or in the course of discussions between the Niger State government and the abducted journalist.
Speaking with Elombah.com during a telephone conversation, the wife confirmed that money was never part of their negotiation as personnel of the state government merely invited him to proffer documents debunking the disparaging report the journalist wrote against Niger State Government alleging corruption.
Mr Oliver had written an extensive report wherein he disclosed monumental corruption perpetrated by the state governor, Babangida Aliyu including decaying infrastructure.
Fejiro Oliver went missing after travelling from his Asaba base to Abuja on the invitation of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, SSG, Saidu Ndako, on Friday.
The Niger State government had earlier stated that they kidnapped the activist journalist so as to unmask him and go after all pseudo journalists on the internet..
The government in a sponsored editorial stated they “intends to introduce the “factor’ called Fejiro Oliver” adding that “The real face behind the mask will soon be revealed for all media practitioners to see, feel and discern.”
The State government said “When that is done, Nigeria would have managed to take off a couple of fake media practitioners off the street and those warming up to take up such disgraceful trade will be deterred”
The investigative online journalist, public affairs commentator and activist Mr Fejiro Oliver is an investigative reporter with online news medium, Elombah.com. Two weeks ago he told the management of Elombah.com that he has been hired by the emerging online news medium- Daily Voice NG as a Managing Editor, but will start work from October 1.
Speaking to elombah.com yesterday, Mr. Ejiro’s wife said she last spoke with her husband on Friday while he was in Abuja to honour an appointment at the instance of Mr. Ndako. She also stated that Ndako had wanted her husband to meet in Minna, but her husband insisted on meeting in Abuja,somewhere in Maitama District.
Another friend of Fejiro confirmed to elombah.com that Mr Fejiro was last heard of Saturday while he was in Abuja to honour an appointment at the instance of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Saidu Idris Ndako.
Fejiro’s friend who had been waiting to pick the missing journalist at Abuja told elombah.com that Mr Fejiro had carried-out extensive investigation into the activities of the Niger State Government under the Governor Babangida Aliyu dispensation. After his investigation, he formally sought the response of the Niger State Government by contacting the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Saidu Idris Ndako Kpaki and the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Mr Israel A. Ebije.
Instead of responding to the issues pertaining to the alleged corrupt practices of governor Babangida Aliyu, the CPS, Mr Ebije in an electronic mail he sent to Fejiro Oliver threatened and warned him to desist from going public with the report (the outcome of his investigations).
In an editorial by Daily Voice NG few days ago, the security agencies and the general public were alerted of the threat to the life of Mr Fejiro Oliver by the Niger State Government through the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor.
Contacted the Secretary to the Niger State Government confirmed to elombah.com that he had spoken to Mr Fejiro last week regarding his report on the Niger State Government that was carried another online medium. He accused Fejiro of trying to blackmail and embarrass the state government and expressed unhappiness at Fejiro’s approach to his profession.
Source: www.elombah.com