The federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Nollywood actress Angela Okorie, who is accused of cyberstalking and criminal defamation.
The case stems from a public feud with her colleague Mercy Johnson.
Emeka Nwite, the judge, granted Okorie bail at N5 million on Friday, following her re-arraignment on a seven-count charge.
The charge alleged that she violated the Cybercrime Act of 2015 through online activities between 2024 and 2025. Okorie pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The legal conflict began after Okorie claimed Johnson was battling “an ailment I do not wish on my enemies.”
She further accused Johnson of hypocrisy, suggesting her public persona conflicted with her private actions and urged her to seek forgiveness.
Johnson, after initially responding with a cryptic social media post, subsequently filed a formal petition with the police.
This led to Okorie’s arrest on Tuesday by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.
She was charged in court on Wednesday and remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre until her bail hearing.
During the hearing, Victor Okoye, the prosecution counsel, opposed the bail application. He argued that Okorie was a flight risk, having previously failed to honour an administrative bail granted by the police, a claim he said demonstrated her unreliability.
Earnest Nwoye, Okorie’s lawyer, however, countered that her earlier unavailability was due to an ailment, not an attempt to evade justice. He urged the court to grant her bail.
Nwite ultimately granted bail under stringent conditions. Okorie must provide one surety who is a civil servant not below grade level 13.
The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, produce their appointment and last promotion letters, submit two passport photographs, and have their residence verified by the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the matter until March 23 for trial.
