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| Senate Ovie Omo-Agege |
Youth groups from the Niger Delta have called on former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to intervene and restrain his alleged associate and godson, Tega Oghenedoro (also known as Fejiro Oliver), over recent blackmail allegations.
The demand, contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Akpor Akpororo, spokesperson for a coalition of Niger Delta youths, comes against the backdrop of longstanding controversies surrounding Oghenedoro’s online publishing activities and the intensifying political contestation in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpororo alleged that the sponsor of certain publications had collaborated with political associates to discredit public office holders.
The youths expressed particular concern that, with the electoral season approaching, false or unverified publications could be weaponized by political interests to undermine opponents. “We hereby call on his godfather, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, to call him to order,” the statement read. It further stressed the need for “responsible journalism, verifiable evidence and accountability in public communication.”
The intervention highlights deeper tensions in Nigeria’s media and political landscape, where online platforms have become both tools for accountability and arenas for alleged extortion, cyberstalking, and smear campaigns. While the specific recent blackmail allegation referenced by the youths has not been independently detailed in major national outlets at the time of writing, Oghenedoro’s public profile provides important context.
Background on Tega Oghenedoro / Fejiro Oliver
Tega Samson Oghenedoro, who publishes under the name Fejiro Oliver and has been associated with platforms such as Secret Reporters, has faced repeated accusations of using journalism as a vehicle for blackmail and cyberstalking. In 2014, then working as a cameraman/producer with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Asaba, Delta State, he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Authorities alleged he demanded ₦50 million from the Niger State government to drop a story about alleged fraudulent activities under then-Governor Muazu Aliyu.
Text messages purportedly exchanged with the state’s Secretary to the Government were released by officials as evidence.
Oghenedoro denied the extortion claim, insisting he was seeking verification for an investigative report. Media rights groups at the time, including Media Rights Agenda, called for him to be charged properly or released rather than detained without trial. web.archive.org
Subsequent years brought further legal troubles. In 2017, he was linked to publications targeting Sterling Bank staff and faced cyberstalking charges. More recently, in 2025–2026, Nigerian police declared him wanted over alleged cyberstalking, defamatory publications, and related computer offences, particularly involving Facebook posts under the Fejiro Oliver name that targeted Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central).
Charges under the Cybercrimes Act accused him of posting false messages intended to cause disorder and damage reputations, including claims about election rigging contracts and personal insults. He was arrested in September 2025, spent weeks in detention in Delta State (with reports of delayed bail processing), and has pursued legal action seeking damages for alleged rights violations. As of mid-2026, police had also summoned him over espionage and related claims while he was reportedly seeking asylum in the United States.
These episodes form a pattern that critics cite when questioning the boundaries between investigative reporting and alleged harassment or financial inducement.
Supporters of critical online journalism, however, argue that Nigerian authorities have frequently weaponized cybercrime laws against reporters exposing corruption, particularly in oil-rich states like Delta.
Organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists have documented cases of harassment involving Oghenedoro and associates.
Omo-Agege’s Political Standing and the “Godson” Claim
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a prominent Urhobo political figure and former Deputy Senate President (2019–2023), remains a central player in Delta politics. After serving two terms representing Delta Central, he contested the 2023 Delta governorship on the APC ticket before later defecting to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). By October 2026, he had secured the NDC nomination for the Delta Central senatorial seat in 2027, setting up a potential high-stakes contest against incumbent APC Senator Ede Dafinone.
Omo-Agege’s career has itself been marked by mutual accusations of blackmail and political violence. In 2018, he dismissed claims by rival O’tega Emerhor as “wicked blackmail.” More recently, his camp has accused opponents of sponsoring petitions and smear campaigns, while he has alleged threats, attacks on NDC events, and assassination attempts linked to the state government—claims the APC and Governor Oborevwori’s side have rejected as politically motivated.
The youth’s characterization of Oghenedoro as Omo-Agege’s “alleged associate and godson” has not been publicly confirmed by the former senator or his official spokespeople in available reports. In Nigerian political culture, “godfather/godson” language is frequently deployed—sometimes accurately reflecting patronage networks, sometimes as a rhetorical device to link figures and assign responsibility.
Without corroboration, it remains an allegation by the youth group. Omo-Agege’s office has historically responded robustly to perceived smear campaigns, often threatening legal action and framing them as the work of political opponents.
Broader Context: Pre-Election Information Warfare in the Niger Delta
The statement arrives as Delta State politics heats up. With 2027 approaching, competition for senatorial and other seats involves intense mobilization of youths, traditional institutions, and media narratives. False or exaggerated publications can rapidly shape public perception in an environment where social media often outpaces traditional verification processes. Akpororo’s emphasis on “verifiable evidence and accountability” echoes long-standing concerns about the quality of online journalism in Nigeria, where poorly resourced or opportunistic platforms sometimes prioritize sensationalism or paid content over rigorous fact-checking.
At the same time, genuine investigative work remains essential in a region still grappling with resource control debates, environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and elite capture of oil revenues. Distinguishing legitimate scrutiny from blackmail is rarely straightforward, especially when powerful interests control both formal and informal levers of influence.
Police and security agencies have themselves faced criticism for selective enforcement—pursuing critical voices while slower to act on other forms of political intimidation or violence.
The Niger Delta youths’ intervention can be read in multiple ways: as a genuine call for higher standards in public discourse; as an attempt to distance a political figure from a controversial associate; or as part of the broader positioning ahead of electoral contests. Regardless of motive, it underscores a practical reality—politicians are often held accountable, fairly or unfairly, for the actions of those perceived to operate in their orbit.
Responsible journalism requires evidence that can withstand scrutiny. Public communication by political actors demands equal transparency. As Nigeria moves closer to another electoral cycle, the pressure on both media practitioners and political leaders to prioritize verifiable facts over convenient narratives will only intensify.
Whether Omo-Agege responds publicly to the youths’ call—or whether further details emerge about the specific blackmail allegations—will help clarify the stakes in this particular episode of Delta’s ongoing political drama.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers Global, News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
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