Court Remands Gov Ododo’s Critic Okai In Prison Over Alleged Cyberstalking, Defamation

A Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has granted the demand of the Prosecution in the alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation case brought against an opposition politician and social critic, Austin Usman Okai, to enable the Department of State Services (DSS) to conclude its investigations into the allegations.

The decision of the DSS to seek for the remand of Okai in prison custody was to ensure compliance with the law by not keeping the accused beyond 48 hours in custody without the lawful permission of the court in line with the Criminal Justice System of Nigeria.

In his ruling on the matter, Magistrate Mobah Abdullahi of the Chief Magistrate Court 1 sitting at Lugard Court in Lokoja, granted the application of the Prosecution.

Okai would been remanded at the Federal Correctional Center in Kabba, while the case was adjourned to March 13, 2025.

Okai, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is facing trial for allegedly accusing the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, of stealing billions of naira meant for the Local Government Area Councils in the State as well as some agencies under the State Government.

According to a viral video on social media, Okai was arrested by operatives of DSS in his Abuja home and forcefully dragged out of the house in the presence of his family and taken to Lokoja.