Nigerian Man Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Defaming Benue State Governor

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Paul Gyenger, in a correctional facility for allegedly labeling Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State as “a chronic womaniser” on social media. Gyenger, who resides in Makurdi, is facing charges of cyberstalking and defamation of character.

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During the court proceedings, Chief Magistrate Mr. Kelvin Mbanongun did not take the plea of the suspect due to a lack of jurisdiction. This legal technicality resulted in the case being adjourned until December 17 for further mention.

The prosecution counsel, Insp. Godwin Ato, informed the court that the case was initially 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. The unfolding events underscore the rising importance of social media regulations and the legal consequences of online defamation in Nigeria.

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.