Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The arraignment of Paul Okungbowa, the Young People’s Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Edo, was stalled in a Benin High Court
This was due to Okungbowa’s absence and that of his counsel, subsequently, Justice Rita Irele-Ifijeh adjourned the case in charge No/B/CD/208c/2025 for the offence of cyber stalking until November 21, 2025.
When the matter was called, Mrs M.P. Ofor announced his appearance as watching the brief of the nominal complaint, while Paul Okungbowa was absent and unrepresented.
The State counsel informed the court that from her investigation, the case has not been assigned .
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.
Subsequently, Justice Irele-Ifijeh granted the said application and the case was accordingly adjourned to November.21, 2025.
Recalls 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 ₦100,000 fine.
The three teachers were charged with negligence and abandonment of the Aigbudu children, leading to harm and exposure to danger.
After the pronouncement of Judgement, 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.