The Digest:
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Nollywood actress Angela Okorie bail in the sum of N5 million. Okorie faces a seven-count charge under the Cybercrimes Act, alleging she transmitted offensive and threatening messages via social media targeting fellow actress Mercy Johnson between 2024 and 2025. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution opposed bail, citing her alleged failure to honour a previous administrative bail, but the court found no concrete evidence she would abscond. Justice Emeka Nwite ordered Okorie to provide a surety who is a Grade Level 13 civil servant. She remains remanded pending the perfection of her bail, with the case adjourned to March 23, 2026.
Key Points
- The case tests the application of cybercrime laws to celebrity disputes, setting a potential precedent for online conduct within the entertainment industry.
- It imposes a significant financial and procedural condition for temporary freedom, while the state proceeds with a potentially lengthy legal process.
- Okorie gains conditional release to prepare her defence, while the judicial system asserts its authority over high-profile allegations of digital harassment.
- The ruling highlights the legal boundaries of social media communication and the potential consequences of online conflicts escalating into criminal charges.
- Granting bail despite prosecution objections suggests the court weighed the severity of the allegations against the fundamental right to liberty before trial.
While granted temporary relief, Okorie must now navigate a protracted legal battle that could redefine professional and personal boundaries in the digital age for public figures.
Sources: Punch Newspapers
