A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has fixed August 19, 2025, to deliver a ruling on whether it has the jurisdiction to handle the cyberstalking case filed against journalist Henry Ibya.

Ibya, a correspondent with Aljazirah newspaper, is facing charges brought by the Benue State Police Command, accusing him of publishing false and damaging content online—amounting to defamation and cyberbullying. The complaint was initiated by Terna Abuul, the Director of ICT at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, who claimed the journalist made untrue publications against him.

During the latest hearing, Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun raised concerns over the prosecution’s prolonged investigations, which have remained incomplete since Ibya was first arraigned in April. The magistrate noted that the matter was only still in court because of the cyberstalking element of the charge.

Ibya’s lawyer, Tom Uja, criticised the prosecution for what he described as “bad practice,” arguing that the complainant’s absence in court showed a lack of seriousness and was simply an attempt to cause his client undue hardship.

Meanwhile, MT Testim, who stood in for the prosecuting counsel, countered by insisting that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case—pointing to inconsistencies in the defence’s arguments.

The court will now decide on August 19 whether it can proceed with the trial, which could significantly shape the course of the case going forward