Man remanded in prison for allegedly defaming Benue Gov, Alia

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Man remanded in prison for allegedly defaming Benue Gov, Alia

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Paul Gyenger, be remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly calling Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State “a chronic womaniser” on social media.

Gyenger, who lives in Makurdi, was charged with cyberstalking and defamation of character.

However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take the plea of the suspect for want of jurisdiction.

Mbanongun adjourned the matter until December 17, for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Insp Godwin Ato told the court that the case was reported at the Anti-cyber-crimes and Narcotics Unit, Makurdi by the ADC to the governor, ASP Ver Ingyatu on Oct 16, 2024.

Ingyatu reported that the suspect posted on a Facebook account bearing Terna Sunday Tyo that, “the Governor is a chronic womanizer’.

The complainant said that the suspect also used abusive words in Tiv Language to defame the character of the governor in different ways on the same Facebook account.

The prosecutor said that the suspect was arrested after a police investigation.

Ato further said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 24 of the Cyber-crimes Act, 2015 and 393 of the penal code of Benue, 2004.