An Ekiti State Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the arrest of Abimbola Olawumi, a disqualified All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, over her failure to appear in court in a criminal case involving alleged blackmail, cyberbullying and death threats.
Olawumi is facing a four-count charge bordering on alleged blackmail, cyberbullying and death threats against the Chief Executive Officer of agro-allied company YSJ Limited, Yemisi Joluwe.
She was first arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on July 23, 2026, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted her bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter until July 28, 2026, for further hearing.
However, at the resumed sitting, Olawumi was absent from court, a development that drew the displeasure of the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun.
Her counsel, Ayokunle Odunayo Okunade, apologised to the court over her absence, explaining that the defendant could not attend the proceedings due to health challenges.
The Police Prosecutor, Samson Osobu, opposed the explanation and urged the court to treat the defendant’s absence as unjustifiable.
Osobu argued that despite claiming to be ill, Olawumi was allegedly active on social media on July 26 and 27, where she reportedly continued to abuse, curse, threaten, bully and terrorise the complainant and other prominent personalities in Ekiti State.
The prosecutor submitted that the defendant’s alleged conduct amounted to a gross abuse of the bail earlier granted by the court. He therefore urged the magistrate to revoke the bail and issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Adeosun expressed disappointment over Olawumi’s failure to appear in court, noting that a defendant granted bail is expected to strictly comply with the conditions attached to it.
The court held that her absence amounted to a violation of the bail conditions and consequently revoked the bail earlier granted to her.
The magistrate thereafter issued a bench warrant for Olawumi’s arrest and adjourned the matter until August 17, 2026, for further hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, Joluwe expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, saying she was ready to pursue justice through the legal process.
“Nobody is above the law, and I am ready to get justice through the court. She has consistently bullied me and allegedly masterminded the kidnap of my staff,” Joluwe said.
She further accused the defendant of masterminding the kidnap of one of her staff members, an allegation that has not yet been determined by the court.
She further accused the defendant of masterminding the kidnap of one of her staff members, an allegation that has not yet been determined by the court.
Joluwe urged Olawumi to stop linking Governor Biodun Oyebanji to the dispute, insisting that the matter was a personal legal dispute between both parties and should be resolved in court.