THE JOURNALIST ON TRIAL: Court Fixes August For Ruling on Jurisdiction

A Makurdi Chief Magistrate presided by Kevin Mbanongun Esq has fixed August 19th, 2025 for ruling on jurisdiction of his court to adjudicate on the offence of syberstocking. 
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command has charged the journalist, Henry Ibya, correspondent of the Aljazirah newspaper in the state on alleged offences of publishing injurious falsehood, defamation and syberstocking.
Director of ICT in the Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi (MOAUM) Terna Abuul reportedly dragged the journalist to the police for the alleged publication against him in the media! 
When the case came up for hearing, the Magistrate,  Mbanongun Esq addressed counsels to parties in the matter and expressed concern over inability of the prosecutor to complete investigation since April 2025 when the accused was brought to the court. He acknowledged that the case was not struck out ab initio because of the charge of syberstocking.
The presiding magistrate fixed August 19th 2025 for ruling on the issue of jurisdiction the prosecution counsel raised against the court.
The defence counsel, Tom Uja Esq argued earlier that the prosecution counsel seeking more time to complete the investigation before the matter could be determined was bad practice. He contended that absence of the complainant in court indicated unseriousness on the prosecuting party as ploy to inflict hardship on his client! 
 MT  Testim who who stood in for the prosecuting counsel raised objection earlier about the court to try the accused on the grounds of jurisdiction and blamed the defence of alleged inconsistency in submissions to the court.