The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has adjourned the cybercrime suit 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 legal action stems from social media publications allegedly authored by Okai, in which he accused the Kogi State Government of diverting N13.4 billion meant for local government administration in the state. Okai, who was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, was arrested following an investigation by the Department of State Services. His arrest followed a remand order previously issued by Magistrate Mopah Abdullahi of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Lokoja, which saw the activist remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kabba.
At the resumption of proceedings before Justice A.S. Ibrahim, lead counsel to the Kogi State Government, McDonald Kurere, informed the court of the presence of the prosecution’s primary witness, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade.
Shortly after the matter was called, defence counsel Blessing Akpala, holding brief for lead defence counsel Odoma Uwodi, applied for a 30-minute stand-down, explaining that Uwodi was appearing in another matter within the same court complex. The prosecution opposed the application on the grounds that the state official was slated to attend an urgent state assignment. Uwodi subsequently arrived in court and proffered reasons for his delay, allowing the court to proceed with the testimony.
Taking the witness stand after being sworn on oath, Ayoade testified that her attention was drawn to social media posts by friends and concerned residents alleging financial misappropriation by the administration. She revealed that the publications were deliberated upon during a State Executive Council meeting, where Governor Usman Ododo directed her to submit a formal petition to the Department of State Services.
The witness stated that she was deeply disturbed by the publications, which were allegedly attributed to Okai and two others, accusing the state government of diverting N13.4 billion in World Bank funds meant for local councils. Clarifying the nature of the funds, Ayoade testified that the state received $2.25 million under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project rather than the figure circulated online.
Ayoade further identified the formal petition sent to the security agency by referencing her signature, official letterhead, and the state government seal, noting that Governor Ododo endorsed the document. Following no objection from defence counsel, Kurere applied to tender the petition in evidence, and the court accordingly admitted the document.
The prosecution subsequently prayed the court to defer the cross-examination of the witness to enable her attend an official state function, an application to which the defence counsel did not object. Justice Ibrahim subsequently fixed November 16, 2026, for cross-examination with the consent of both legal teams.
Speaking with journalists outside the courtroom after the session, Okai characterized the trial as a calculated attempt to stifle opposition and critical voices in the state, while expressing firm confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice.
