A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi on Wednesday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Paul Gyenger, be held in a correctional facility for allegedly calling Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State “a chronic womaniser” on social media.
Gyenger faces charges of cyberstalking and defamation of character.
Chief Magistrate Mr. Kelvin Mbanongun did not allow the suspect to enter a plea due to lack of jurisdiction. He has set the next hearing for December 17.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Godwin Ato, informed the court that the case was reported to the Anti-Cyber-Crimes and Narcotics Unit in Makurdi by the governor’s Aide-de-Camp, ASP Ver Ingyatu, on October 16, 2024.
Ato explained that Gyenger made the defamatory statement on a Facebook account under the name Terna Sunday Tyo, where he also used abusive language in Tiv to insult the governor.
The prosecutor stated that Gyenger was arrested after a police investigation into the matter. Ato pointed out that Gyenger’s actions violated Sections 24 of the Cyber-Crimes Act, 2015, and 393 of the Penal Code of Benue State, 2004.
