A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of Nollywood actress Angela Okorie at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State following her arraignment on charges of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Wednesday after Okorie pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge filed against her by the Nigeria Police Force. The judge ruled on an oral bail application made by her counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), shortly after the plea was taken.
Justice Nwite directed that the actress be held in custody until January 30, when her formal bail application will be heard.
Okorie, who resides at Henry Montero Street, Lekki Palm City, Ajah, Lagos, is accused of conspiring with one Ifeoma Mbonu, currently at large, to commit cyberstalking and criminal defamation. According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, the alleged offences involved social media posts on Instagram and TikTok in which fellow actress Mercy Johnson Okojie was described in highly defamatory terms.
The police alleged that the offences were committed in 2024 and are punishable under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Following the defendant’s plea, prosecuting counsel Victor Okoye asked the court to remand Okorie in Suleja prison and adjourn the matter for the prosecution to open its case.
Ejesieme opposed the application, arguing that his client was denied adequate time and opportunity to prepare her defence. He told the court that although the charge was filed in July 2025, a copy was only served on the defendant about an hour before proceedings commenced.
The senior advocate further claimed that Okorie was arrested in Lagos a day earlier and transported to Abuja without prior notice of the court case. He also alleged that the police denied the defence access to the actress for proper briefing.
Ejesieme urged the court to allow Okorie to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the police. In the alternative, he requested that she be released into his custody to enable her make arrangements for her child in Lagos and file a formal bail application.
He told the court that Okorie is a single mother who was not given time to make provisions for her child before her arrest and arraignment.
Responding, Okoye argued that the administrative bail had lapsed following the defendant’s arraignment. He further accused Okorie of jumping bail and failing to honour invitations previously sent to her by the police to report at their Abuja headquarters in connection with the case.
The prosecuting lawyer asked the court to direct the defendant to file a formal bail application, stating that the prosecution intended to present documents to show that she failed to comply with earlier police invitations.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite confirmed that the police had indeed invited the defendant to appear on January 16 in relation to the matter. However, he faulted the police for denying the defendant access to her lawyers prior to the court proceedings.
The judge ordered both parties to file and exchange all relevant documents relating to the bail application within 24 hours. He further directed that Okorie remain in custody at the Suleja Correctional Centre and be produced in court on January 30 for the bail hearing.
The case arose from a petition submitted by Mercy Johnson Okojie’s legal representatives, who accused Okorie and her alleged accomplice of making defamatory and malicious social media publications intended to damage their client’s reputation and incite public hostility.
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