Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, today January 30, granted Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, N5 million bail with one surety in like sum for allegedly cyberb#llying Mercy Johnson-Okojie, also an actress.
In a ruling delivered on Okorie’s bail application, moved by her lawyer, Earnest Nwoye, held that though the prosecution opposed the request, there was no concrete evidence before the court to prove that the defendant would jump bail if granted.
“Therefore, I am minded to grant the bail in the interest of justice,” Justice Nwite said, saying bail is at the discretion of the court which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.
The judge then admitted Okorie to N5 million bail with one surety who must depose to affidavit of means and must be a level 13 civil servant. The judge als said the surety must produce his appointment letter and letter of the last promotion in the service.
The judge ordered Okorie and her surety to submit two passport photographs to the court registrar and that the residence of the surety must be verified by the registrar.
Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until March 23 for trial, ordered Okorie to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the verification of her bail conditions.
Okorie was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday, January 27, flown to Abuja and was re-arraigned on Wednesday, January 28 on a seven-count charge bordering on cyberstalking and criminal def@mation, which she was alleged to have committed alongside one other, Ifeoma Mbonu who is now at large, between 2024 and 2025 in violation of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.
She, however, pleaded not guilty after the seven counts were read to her, and the police lawyer, Victor Okoye, sought a trial date to present their witnesses in court to establish their case against the actress.
The judge then ordered her remand in the Suleja Correctional Centre, following her earlier arraignment on a three-count charge. The judge had rejected the oral bail application made by the lawyer, who appeared for Okorie, Alex Ejesieme, SAN, shortly after she pleaded not guilty to the counts.
He then ordered that Okorie be remanded until Jan. 30 when her formal bail application would be heard.
