Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has revoked the bail earlier granted to an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Abimbola Jumoke Olawumi, and issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear in court for the continuation of her trial over alleged blackmail, cyberbullying, and death threats. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, by Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, marked a dramatic turn in a case that has drawn significant attention to the conduct of political aspirants on social media platforms.
Olawumi, a former APC governorship aspirant who sought the party's ticket ahead of the 2026 election but was disqualified before the party's primary, was first arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, July 23, 2026. She pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge bordering on alleged blackmail, cyberbullying, criminal intimidation, and making false accusations against the Chief Executive Officer of an agro-allied company, YSJ Limited, Yemisi Joluwe, as well as two other individuals. Following her not-guilty plea, the court granted her bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter to July 28, 2026, for further hearing.
The charges against Olawumi stem from a petition filed by Joluwe to the Inspector General of Police, alleging blackmail, harassment, and threats to her life. According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that between March 2026 and the period under review, Olawumi unlawfully used social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, to publish the photographs, residential addresses, and alleged threatening messages directed at Joluwe, Mr. Adeleke Ajibade, and Mrs. Okewale Olayemi. The police further accused her of falsely alleging on social media that Joluwe embezzled Ekiti State Government funds without any factual basis. The offences are said to contravene Sections 398 and 106 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Olawumi was conspicuously absent from court. Her counsel, Ayokunle Odunayo Okunade, apologised to the court over her absence, explaining that she was unable to attend the proceedings due to health challenges. Okunade tendered a medical report to support his submission. However, the Police Prosecutor, Samson Osobu, strongly opposed the defence’s explanation, insisting that the defendant’s absence was unjustifiable.
Osobu argued that despite claiming to be ill, Olawumi was allegedly active on social media on July 26 and 27, 2026, where she reportedly continued to abuse, curse, threaten, bully, and terrorise the complainant as well as other prominent personalities in Ekiti State. According to the prosecutor, the defendant’s conduct amounted to a gross abuse of the bail earlier granted by the court. He urged the court to revoke her bail and issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun expressed displeasure over the defendant’s failure to appear in court. The magistrate stated that the court was disappointed that Olawumi failed to honour its proceedings despite being admitted to bail, noting that parties granted bail are expected to comply strictly with the conditions attached to it. He consequently revoked the bail earlier granted to her and issued a bench warrant for her arrest, adjourning the case to August 17, 2026, for further hearing.
Olawumi's legal troubles are compounded by her ongoing challenge against her disqualification from the APC governorship primary. She is currently challenging her disqualification at the Supreme Court after unsuccessful legal battles at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. The APC had disqualified her before the party's primary, preventing her from contesting for the party's governorship ticket in the 2026 election.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has distanced itself from the arrest and prosecution of the former APC governorship aspirant, urging the public to disregard reports suggesting it influenced the police action. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, SAN, said in a statement that the government neither ordered Olawumi’s arrest nor directed her prosecution, insisting that law enforcement agencies operate independently of the state government. According to him, the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains committed to the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights. "Ekiti State Government under the current democratic dispensation obeys the rule of law and respects the personal liberty and freedom of all citizens. The law enforcement agencies carry out their duties separately without any control from the State Government. We advise the public and the media to ignore false stories linking the Ekiti State Government to this arrest," Apata said.
The case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting the growing concern over the use of social media for harassment and intimidation, particularly by political figures. The revocation of Olawumi's bail and the issuance of a bench warrant send a clear signal that courts will not tolerate conduct that undermines the integrity of legal proceedings. As the case continues, the public awaits the outcome of the trial and whether Olawumi will surrender to authorities or be apprehended following the bench warrant issued by the court.
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