The trial of Florence Kingbo, the 21-year-old influencer being prosecuted in front of the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (CRIET), has been postponed to July 7, 2026, according to a judicial source. This decision follows a series of hearings during which the judges examined the case before delving deeper into the elements constituting the charges.
The case was opened in early February 2026 when the special prosecutor initiated proceedings against Florence Kingbo. She is accused of several charges, including harassment via an electronic system, invasion of privacy, incitement to hatred and violence, as well as provoking rebellion; acts related to the dissemination on social media of messages deemed offensive towards public figures.
Bénin Web TV
The trial began on February 3, 2026, in a particularly tense atmosphere. Upon her arrival in court, the defendant adopted what the prosecution deemed a provocative attitude, prompting interventions from the court’s presidency. During this hearing, Florence Kingbo acknowledged the allegations against her while contesting certain aspects of the procedure and comparing her situation to other cases treated differently in court.
Bénin Web TV
In her defense, Attorney Aboubacar Baparapé cited elements related to his client’s mental state, suggesting the need for an evaluation. At the court’s instruction, a medical evaluation was ordered during a hearing held on March 24, 2026. This evaluation, carried out at the Jacquot Neuro-Psychiatry Center, aimed to determine whether any disorders could impact the defendant’s criminal responsibility. The court then postponed the hearing to June 2, 2026, to allow for the inclusion of the report in the case file, but this schedule has been adjusted again following deliberations.
BENIN WEB TV
The postponement to July 7, 2026, marks a new phase in the proceedings, giving the parties the necessary time to incorporate the findings of the evaluation and prepare their arguments for the resumption of the substantive debate. The set date will allow the CRIET to continue examining this case, which has garnered attention from observers due to its media dimension, its legal implications regarding freedom of expression in the digital age, and the questions it raises about the limits and responsibilities associated with the use of online platforms in Benin.
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