Alleged defamation: Court sends Kogi PDP chieftain Austin Okai to prison

A Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State has remanded an activist and a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Austin Okai to enable the Department of State Services, DSS, conclude their investigations into the allegations of cyberstalking and criminal defamation filed against him of Kogi governor, Usman Ododo.

The Court remanded the PDP chieftain based on the demand of the prosecution.

The decision of the DSS to seek for the remand 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 granted the application of the prosecution.

Mr Okai has been remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre, Kabba, while the case was adjourned to March 13, 2025.

Mr Okai is facing trial for his allegation on the social media that the Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo allegedly stole billions of naira meant for the Local Government Councils in the state as well as some agencies under the State Government.

Okai was a former spokesperson for PDP Presidential Campaign and gubernatorial Campaign Councils in Kogi state.

He was also a member of the PDP Presidential Campaign organization in 2015 Presidential election and also a member of PDP National Convention.

The PDP chieftain was an aspirant for Dekina-Bassa House of Representatives seat under the platform of his party in the 2023 election.