Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted Mrs. Chioma Okoli bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties of like sum, following allegations related to her online commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste.
In granting bail, Justice Lifu stipulated that one of the sureties must be either the defendant’s spouse or a blood relative with a stable income source, residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
Additionally, the judge ordered the sureties to provide a passport photograph each, and Mrs. Okoli to surrender her international passport if she possesses one.
Justice Lifu concurred with Mrs. Okoli’s lawyer’s argument that the charged offense was bailable. He further emphasized that, in accordance with Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, Mrs. Okoli is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Denying her bail, he concluded, would be an erroneous exercise of discretion, tantamount to pre-trial judgment and judicial misconduct.
He equally based the ruling on the health status of Okoli.
He adjourned the matter until June 13 for further hearing.
Mrs. Okoli faces charges related to her online remarks regarding Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, which the police claim violated the Cybercrime Act of 2015.
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police arraigned her before Justice Lifu on two counts of cybercrime.
Mrs. Okoli entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
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