Court Sets For Pre-Trial of NUJ Benue Correspondents' Member

The case brought against the Correspondent of Al-Jazirah Newspaper in Benue State, Henry Ibya has been fixed for Pre Trial on October 22, 2026 at the State High Court Five, Makurdi.

The presiding judge, Justice John Shishi disclosed the decision on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 when it came for consideration. After arguments by counsels to the plaintiff and defendant, the judge adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026 for the trial to take place.  

The court had adjourned the case at the previous sitting for the parties file processes on appropriate procedure of the matter.

At Wednesday's proceeding, not all the papers filed by the Henry Ibya defence counsel were reportedly available in the court's custody and the development forced Justice Shishi to adjourn the case to October 22, 2026 for the parties to regularize filings for proper adjudication.

Journalists who covered the court proceedings sought the clarification on the essence for pre-trial conference on the matter. The defence counsel to Henry Ibya, Alu O A Esquire said, the pre-trial conference allows parties as expected to "identify and narrow issues in dispute and resolve those non-contentious in the matters for commencement of the trial fully."

The suit is one of many legal challenges for the Al-Jazirah newspaper cirrespondent in the state. The challenges arise from the petition by Terna Abuul of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), Benue State. 

The petition premises on the alleged report by Henry Ibya against Terna Abuul said to be Director of ICT in MOAUM.

The Commissioner of Police pressed criminal charges on the accused in the Chief Magistrate and the charges included cyberstalking among others.

The president situation sets the pace for parties to focus on the pre-trial process before the substantive hearing of the matter.

Without prejudice to the case, what the future holds for Journalist Ibya in the three different courts adjudicating on the same petition can only be seen with the eyes of justice, judges alone have the eyes to see and serve justice as desired!