A Federal High Court in Abuja granted Mrs Chioma Okoli N5 million bail with two sureties in the same amount over allegations stemming from her online commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste.
In his verdict, Justice Peter Lifu agreed with the defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, that the case against Okoli was bailable.
Lifu further stated that the defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the judge, refusing her bail is an improper exercise of discretion that will result in a pre-trial judgement and judicial rascality.
He also based the decision on Okoli’s health situation.
In admitting her to bail, he stated that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s spouse or blood family who has a variable source of income and lives within the court’s jurisdiction.
The judge, who ordered the sureties to deposit a passport photograph each, also directed the defendant to surrender any overseas passports she may have.
According to NAN, the judge delayed the case to June 13 for a hearing.
Okoli is being charged for her online comments on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, which the police claim breached the Cybercrime Act of 2015.
The Inspector-General of Police charged her with cybercrime on two counts and brought her before Justice Lifu on Tuesday.
Despite her plea of not guilty to all counts, the judge remanded her until today to rule on her bail application.
Earlier, the prosecution attorney, Abdulrashid Sidi, requested the court to reject the bail motion filed by the defence counsel, Effiong.
Sidi had objected to the bail application, arguing that given the defendant’s past and antecedents, she was likely to jump bail.
The prosecution clearly informed the court that while on administrative bail, the defendant refused to follow the bail terms and would most likely jump bail.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
