Gov. Hyacinth Alia

A 35-year-old man, Paul Gyenger, has been remanded in a custodial centre for allegedly calling Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State ”a chronic womaniser” on social media.

Gyenger who lives in Makurdi was charged with cyberstalking and defamation of character by the police.

He was arraigned before Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

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

Mbanongun adjourned the matter until Dec 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 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.