Court orders arrest of Ekiti APC governorship aspirant over alleged cyberbullying, death threats

By Idowu Adebomi

An Ekiti State Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has revoked the bail granted to an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Abimbola Jumoke Olawumi, and issued a bench warrant for her arrest over alleged blackmail, cyberbullying, and death threats against the Chief Executive Officer of YSJ Limited, an agro-allied company, Mrs. Yemisi Joluwe.

Olawumi was initially arraigned before the court on July 23 on a four-count charge, to which she pleaded not guilty. 

She was subsequently granted bail on self-recognition.

However, during the latest proceedings, defense counsel Ayokunle Odunayo Okunade apologized to the court for her client’s absence, explaining that she was unable to appear due to health challenges.

The Police Prosecutor, Samson Osobu, strongly opposed the explanation, arguing that the defendant’s absence was unjustifiable.

Osobu told the court that despite claiming to be ill, Olawumi was active on social media on July 26 and 27, where she allegedly continued to abuse, curse, threaten, bully, and terrorize the complainant and other prominent personalities in Ekiti State.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant’s conduct amounted to a gross abuse of her bail terms. He consequently urged the court to revoke the bail and issue a bench warrant for Olawumi’s arrest.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun expressed strong displeasure over the defendant’s failure to appear, emphasizing that defendants granted bail are expected to strictly comply with the attached conditions.

Adeosun subsequently revoked Olawumi’s bail and issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

The court adjourned the case to August 17, 2026, for further hearing.