The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has adjourned the cybercrime case filed by the Kogi State Government against human rights activist Austin Okai to November 16, 2026, for the cross-examination of the prosecution’s star witness.
The case followed alleged social media publications by Okai accusing the Kogi State Government of diverting ₦13.4 billion in funds meant for local governments in the state.
When the matter came up before Justice A.S. Ibrahim, counsel to the Kogi State Government, McDonald Kurere, announced the presence of the prosecution’s star witness, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade.
Defence counsel Blessing Akpala, who was holding brief for Odoma Uwodi, asked the court to stand down the case for 30 minutes because the lead defence counsel was attending to another matter in a nearby court.
The request was opposed by the prosecution, which said Ayoade had an important state assignment to attend and that the hearing should proceed.
Uwodi later arrived in court and explained the reason for his delayed appearance.
Ayoade subsequently took an oath before the court, affirming that the evidence she would give would be truthful.
In her testimony, Ayoade said she received calls from friends and residents who drew her attention to a social media report alleging that the state government had misappropriated funds.
She said the allegation became a subject of discussion at a State Executive Council meeting and that the council, under the leadership of Governor Usman Ododo, directed her to petition the Department of State Services, DSS.
“I was really disturbed about the trend that the government allegedly diverted funds meant for local governments,” Ayoade told the court.
According to the witness, the social media publication allegedly attributed to Okai and two others accused the state government of receiving and diverting ₦13.4 billion said to be World Bank funds.
Ayoade, however, told the court that the fund she knew about was connected to the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACRESAL, project.
“What I knew about the said fund was the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACRESAL project fund which the state received,” she said.
She told the court that the state received $2.25 million under the project and that she wrote a petition to the DSS with relevant documents attached.
The witness said Governor Ododo endorsed the petition.
Ayoade also told the court that she could identify the petition through the official letterhead of her office, her signature and that of the state government.
In the absence of an objection from the defence, prosecution counsel Kurere asked the court to admit the document into evidence.
The prosecution subsequently requested that the cross-examination of Ayoade be deferred because she was expected to attend an official function on behalf of the state government.
Defence counsel Uwodi did not oppose the application.
Both parties subsequently agreed to November 16, 2026, for the cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Okai described the case as an attempt to silence dissenting voices and expressed confidence in the judiciary to deliver justice.
Okai, who was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, was arrested following his social media publication alleging financial misconduct against the Kogi State Government.
His arrest followed an investigation by the Department of State Services, which had earlier obtained a remand order from Magistrate Mopah Abdullahi of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Lokoja.
He was subsequently remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre, Kabba.
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