Kogi Govt Files Fresh Charges Against PDP Chieftain Austin Okai, Serves Him In Prison
SaharaReporters exclusively gathered that Okai was served with the charges in prison on Tuesday evening.
The Kogi State Government has filed fresh charges against political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, at the State High Court in Lokoja.
SaharaReporters exclusively gathered that Okai was served with the charges in prison on Tuesday evening.
The state prosecution has brought a 16-count charge against Okai, contradicting the initial allegations that led to his remand by the magistrate court.
“The Kogi State government is trying to use all means to keep Okai behind bars,” a source familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, Okai’s legal team has filed a bail application before the Federal High Court in Lokoja. The court has adjourned the hearing on the bail application to Wednesday, March 19.
During the resumed hearing, the prosecution argued that the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to grant Okai bail, insisting that the case remains under the authority of the magistrate court.
However, the court questioned the validity of the new charges, pointing out that it was unlikely for the same defendant, who is currently in detention, to have committed additional offences while still in custody.
Okai’s counsel countered the prosecution’s argument, asserting that matters related to cyberstalking fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court. He, therefore, prayed the court to grant bail to his client.
Following heated arguments and counterarguments, the presiding judge requested a soft copy of the relevant cyberstalking laws and penalties.
On this basis, the court adjourned the ruling to March 19 for further deliberation.
In February, a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, ruled in favour of the prosecution’s request to remand Mr. Okai over allegations of cyberstalking and criminal defamation against Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had sought the court’s approval to detain Okai while they completed their investigation into the allegations. The request was based on Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System, which requires court approval to detain an accused person for more than 48 hours.
Delivering the ruling, Magistrate Mobah Abdullahi of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Lugard Court, Lokoja, granted the prosecution’s application and ordered Okai’s remand at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kabba. The case was adjourned to March 13, 2025.
Okai, a former PDP candidate for the Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in the 2023 general election, is facing trial over a social media post in which he accused Governor Ododo of misappropriating billions of naira meant for local government councils and state agencies.
