The Inspector-General of Police has re-arraigned Nollywood actress Angela Okorie before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cyberstalking.
Okorie was docked on a seven-count amended charge of cyberstalking and pleaded not guilty to all the counts during the proceedings.
The prosecution asked the court for a short adjournment to enable it open its case, a request that was not opposed by the defence.
Counsel to the actress informed the court of a bail application and urged the judge to exercise discretion in her favour.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that Okorie jumped the administrative bail earlier granted by the police, adding that her sureties could not be found and she had to be re-arrested.
It noted that the alleged offences attract sentences ranging from three to five years.
Responding, defence counsel said the actress did not abscond but travelled for a medical check-up, which he said was communicated to the police.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Emeka Nwite granted Okorie bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge ordered that the surety must be a level 13 civil servant resident within the court’s jurisdiction, with the address to be verified, and that both the defendant and surety deposit their passport photographs with the court.
The case was adjourned until March 23 for trial.
The arraignment comes amid a mild uproar on social media following Okorie’s arrest and remand at the Kuje Correctional Facility.
Her colleague, Mercy Johnson, was fingered by activists and media personalities as being linked to the arrest, with calls for Okorie’s release and a resolution of issues between them.
While Johnson is yet to publicly comment on the matter, popular activist Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, said the actress had alluded to months of cyberbullying allegedly linked to her colleague.
