A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Nolly wood actress Angela Okorie bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum in a cybercrime case filed against her by the Inspector-General of Police.
Justice Emeka Nwite in a brief ruling noted that the surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 13 or above, who must submit a letter of appointment, last promotion letter, and an authentic residential address for verification.
The court further ordered that both the defendant and the surety must deposit their passport photographs with the court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Okorie is to be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre.
During the proceedings, Okorie pleaded not guilty to a seven-count amended charge bordering on cybercrime.
After her plea was taken, the prosecution asked for a trial date to enable it to call witnesses. However, her defence counsel immediately moved a bail application, arguing that bail is at the discretion of the court and that the defendant is not a flight risk.
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The prosecution opposed the application, stating that it had filed a counter-affidavit urging the court to refuse bail.
The prosecutor told the court that Okorie had earlier been granted administrative bail but allegedly absconded, claiming that neither she nor her surety could be found.
Citing Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the prosecution argued that once a defendant defaults on the terms of administrative bail, the court is empowered to deny further bail.
The defence dismissed the prosecution’s claims as “misinformation”, arguing that Okorie had been in constant communication with the police.
According to her lawyer, she had formally written to the police informing them that she travelled for medical evaluation and surgery.
He also explained that the surety was unavailable at the time because he had travelled for his mother’s burial, a fact he said was also communicated to the police.
The defence further argued that the prosecution’s opposition to bail amounted to “persecution, not prosecution.”
In granting bail, the court held that the surety must present a verifiable residential address for proper confirmation.
The case was adjourned to March 23, 2026, for trial to commence.
One of the counts reads that Okorie, between 2024 and 2025, allegedly sent a message through a computer system claiming that the children of actress Mercy Johnson Okojie “inherited witchcraft” from their mother.
According to charge, the message was intended to bully, threaten, or harass, and placed Mercy Johnson and her children in fear of death, violence, or bodily harm.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).
Nollywood actress Angela Okorie was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre following her initial arraignment over alleged cyber-related offences, after been arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
