BENIN CITY – The arraignment of Mr. Paul Okungbowa, former governorship candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP) in the last Edo governorship election, was on Tuesday stalled at an Edo High Court, sitting in Benin City due to his absence and that of his counsel.
Justice Rita Irele-Ifijeh consequently adjourned the case, marked No. B/CD/208c/2025, involving alleged cyberstalking, to November 21, 2025.
When the matter was called, Mrs. E.E. Ageloisa announced her appearance as watching brief counsel for the nominal complainant, while Okungbowa was neither present nor represented.
The State Counsel informed the court that, based on her findings, the case had not yet been formally assigned. She then applied that hearing notices be served on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the defendant, to enable the substantive state counsel to take appropriate steps should the defendant fail to appear on the next adjourned date.
Justice Irele-Ifijeh granted the application and adjourned the matter accordingly.
It will be recalled that Okungbowa was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Oredo Chief Magistrate Court in December 2024.
He was found guilty of negligence and defamation for allegedly calling a pupil’s mother a prostitute in the presence of her husband at Zone 5, Benin City—conduct deemed likely to cause a breach of public peace.
Okungbowa, proprietor of Calvary Crown Academy, Benin, was sentenced alongside three teachers from his school — Blessing Osarodion, Egharevba Esosa, and Isioma Nimen — who were charged with negligence and abandonment of the Aigbudu children, leading to harm and exposure to danger.
Chief Magistrate (Mrs.) Carolina Oghuma sentenced Okungbowa to six months in prison with an option of ₦100,000 fine.
After the judgment, Okungbowa allegedly took to Facebook to make defamatory posts against Mr. Steve Aigbudu and his wife, accusing them of bribing the Magistrate to secure his conviction, allegations that led to the current cyberstalking charges.
