Court Adjourns Cyberstalking Case Against Ex-Edo Governorship Candidate

The Benin High Court presided over by Justice Rita Irele-Ifijeh has adjourned the cyberstalking case against Paul Okungbowa, the Young People’s Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Edo State after he and his lawyer failed to appear in court.
When the matter was called, E.E. Ageloisa announced appearance as watching the brief of the nominal complainant, while Paul Okungbowa was absent and unrepresented.
He applied that hearing notice be served on the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the defendant to enable the substantive state counsel to make the necessary application on the next adjourned date if the defendant fails to show up in court on the next adjourned date.
Justice Irele-Ifijeh granted the application and the case was accordingly adjourned.
It would be recalled that, Okungbowa was previously convicted and sentenced to six months in prison by the Oredo Chief Magistrate Court in December, 2024.
He was convicted on charges of negligence and defamation after calling a pupil’s mother a prostitute in the presence of her husband at Zone 5, Benin, a conduct likely to cause breach of public peace
Okungbowa, who owns the Benin-based private school, Calvary Crown Academy, was sentenced alongside three teachers from his school: Blessing Osarodion, Egharevba Esosa, and Isioma Nimen.
Chief Magistrate (Mrs) Carolina Oghuma sentenced Okungbowa to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine.
The three teachers were charged with negligence and abandonment of the Aigbudu’s children, leading to harm and exposure to danger.
After the pronouncement of judgment, Okungbowa allegedly went on to make defamatory posts on Facebook about Mr Steve Aigbudu and his wife, accusing them of bribing the magistrate to secure his conviction, which led to the current cyberstalking charges.