Actress Angela Okorie granted N5m bail in defamation, cyberstalking case

Detained Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, was granted bail on Friday by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the actress to bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety in the same amount.

Okorie had been remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State after her arraignment on January 28 over charges of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

While ruling on her bail application, the judge noted that although the prosecution opposed the request, it failed to place any concrete evidence before the court to show that the actress would abscond if released on bail.

Justice Nwite said, “Therefore, I am minded to grant the bail in the interest of justice,” adding that the grant of bail remains at the discretion of the court, which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

Justice Nwite ordered that the defendant’s sole surety must be a level 13 civil servant, who must depose to an affidavit of means

He said the surety must produce his appointment letter and the letter of the last promotion.

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 further remanded in Suleja prison pending her compliance with the bail conditions.

At the commencement of proceedings on Friday, prosecuting lawyer, Victor Okoye, informed the court about a seven-count amended charge filed by the prosecution and applied that the defendant’s plea be taken in relation to the amended charge.

Justice Nwite granted Okoye’s application, following which Okorie was re-arraigned on the seven-count amended charge.

She pleaded not guilty, following which Okoye applied for a date for the prosecution to open its case.

Okorie of 1 Henry Montero Street, Lekki Palm City, Ajah, Lagos, is alleged, in the amended charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, to have conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at large) to commit cyberstalking and defamation by calling a fellow actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie, a blood-sucking demon in their posts on their social media platforms of Instagram and TikTok.

Okorie’s case stemmed from a petition by Mercy Johnson Okojie’s lawyer, in which sundry allegations were made against her and Ifeoma.

Part of the petition, dated May 14, 2025, reads, “Most alarmingly, in a recent criminal and defamatory publication, Angela Okorie published the following statement via her Instagram page @ realagelaokorie: ‘Blood sucking demon no see blood suck again, E say na slimming tea. Except there’s no God, MJ go and beg people you chop their destinies and destroy their homes else no peace for the wicked!!! Gospel songs won’t save you. Your heart Is Dark!!!’

“This malicious statement, clearly targeted at our client, was published with the intent to cause irreparable reputational injury, incite hatred, provoke unrest among the public, and further harass and emotionally traumatize our client.

“The tone, content, and framing of the publication aim to portray our client as a destructive person, despite her widely known public image as a humanitarian and devout Christian mother.

“The principal suspect, Angela Okorie, has demonstrated a relentless and calculated effort to incite public hatred and threaten public peace by repeatedly using her social media platform for criminal intimidation, false accusations, and criminal defamation.

“She has become the most aggressive and persistent in this malicious campaign.”

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Community
For Quick Access To News and Happenings
Around You.