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 gave 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 moved by her counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), shortly after the plea was taken.
Justice Nwite directed that Okorie be remanded in custody until January 30, when her formal bail application would be heard
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, Okorie, who resides at 1 Henry Montero Street, Lekki Palm City, Ajah, Lagos, allegedly conspired with one Ifeoma Mbonu, currently at large, to commit cyberstalking and defamation. The prosecution alleged that the defendants described fellow actress Mercy Johnson Okojie as a “blood-sucking demon” in posts made on Instagram and TikTok.
The police said the alleged offences, committed in 2024, contravened provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
Following the plea, prosecuting counsel Victor Okoye urged the court to remand the defendant in Suleja prison and adjourn the matter for the prosecution to open its case.
However, Ejesieme opposed the request, 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, Okorie only received a copy of it about an hour before proceedings commenced.
The defence counsel further claimed that Okorie was arrested in Lagos a day earlier and transported to Abuja without prior notice of the court case, adding that the police denied him access to his client for proper briefing.
He urged the court to allow Okorie to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted her by the police. In the alternative, Ejesieme asked that she be released to him to enable her make arrangements for her child, who he said was left alone in Lagos, and to file a formal bail application.
He described Okorie as a single mother of one who was not given sufficient time to make proper arrangements for her child before her arrest.
Responding, Okoye dismissed the defence arguments, stating that the administrative bail earlier granted Okorie had lapsed upon her arraignment. He accused the actress of jumping bail and failing to honour police invitations to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The prosecutor urged the court to direct the defendant to file a formal bail application to enable the prosecution present documents showing that she allegedly absconded and ignored previous police invitations.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite confirmed that the police sent an invitation to Okorie on January 16 requesting her appearance at the headquarters in connection with the case. However, the judge faulted the police for denying the defendant access to her lawyers before the proceedings.
He ordered all parties to file and exchange relevant documents relating to the bail application within 24 hours and directed that Okorie remain in Suleja prison pending the hearing of her bail application on January 30.
The case arose from a petition filed by Mercy Johnson Okojie’s lawyer, accusing Okorie and Mbonu of making defamatory and malicious statements against the actress.
The petition, dated May 14, 2025, quoted an Instagram post allegedly made by Okorie, which described Mercy Johnson in derogatory terms and accused her of destroying lives and families.
According to the petition, the publication was intended to damage Mercy Johnson’s reputation, incite public hatred, and subject her to emotional trauma, despite her public image as a humanitarian and devout Christian.
The petitioner further alleged that Okorie had persistently used her social media platforms to engage in criminal intimidation, false accusations, and defamation, describing her as the most aggressive figure in the alleged smear campaign.