Benue Journalist Henry Ibya Granted Bail in Alleged Cyberstalking Case

A Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi has granted bail to Henry Ibya, the Benue correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, who is facing an alleged cyberstalking charge.

Justice Mary Abounu presided over the proceedings, during which the court considered the journalist’s bail application. His counsel, Tom Uja, urged the court to grant bail, describing his client as reliable and likely to attend future proceedings.

Uja told the court that Ibya had previously been taken before two other courts in Benue State over the same charge. He added that the journalist had never failed to appear whenever he was required to attend court.

The prosecution counsel was absent during the proceedings. However, the absence did not prevent the court from considering the bail application, which was granted in the interest of justice, according to the report.

The case reportedly originated from a complaint by Terna Abuul, identified as the Director of Information and Communication Technology at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University in Makurdi.

Abuul allegedly reported Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force in Benue State over a news report concerning alleged mismanagement in the university’s ICT department. He reportedly accused the journalist of publishing allegations of wrongdoing against him.

Following the complaint, Ibya was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi on the cyberstalking charge. The allegations against the journalist have not been established as proven in court.

The court adjourned the case until November 5, 2026, for further proceedings.