The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, are moving toward an out-of-court settlement regarding alleged criminal defamation, stemming from a petition by actress Mercy Johnson.
The I-G’s lawyer, C. Odinaka, and Okorie’s counsel, W.I. Okereke, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the matter was called.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorie is being prosecuted by the police for allegedly cyberbullying Johnson-Okojie.
The judge had, on Jan. 30, admitted her to a N5 million bail following her re-arraignment on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrimes.
Upon resumed trial, on Monday, Odinaka informed the court that the parties had begun settlement talks.
“Parties have commenced settlement, and we are trying to reach an amicable resolution,” he said.
Okereke corroborated the prosecution’s submission, stating that “parties have resolved to settle this matter out of court.”
After hearing from the parties, the judge described their remarks as “very encouraging,” and advised them to ensure that the matter is settled.
The judge subsequently granted the prosecution’s oral application for adjournment and adjourned the matter until April 21 for a report on settlement.
Meanwhile, Johnson-Okojie, in a letter dated March 18 and addressed to the Director, Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), sought to withdraw the charge.
The actress, through her lawyer, A. Agbi of Maverick Solicitors, said the decision followed earnest and concerted appeals from well-meaning and influential individuals, including her husband’s political associates.
“We hereby formally request the immediate withdrawal of the petition dated May 14, 2025, against Angela Okorie and the discontinuation of the amended charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, together with all investigations and proceedings arising therefrom as they relate to her,” the letter read in part.
Justice Nwite had, on March 28, ordered Okorie’s remand in the Suleja Correctional Centre, following her earlier arraignment on three-count charge.
The judge had rejected the oral bail application made by the lawyer, who appeared for Okorie, Alex Ejesieme, SAN, shortly after she pleaded not guilty to the counts.
He then ordered that the mother of one be remanded until Jan. 30 when her formal bail application would be heard.
Okorie was alleged, in the amended charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, to have conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at large) to commit cyberstalking and defamation by calling a fellow actress, Johnson- Okojie a blood sucking demon in their posts on their social media platforms of Instagram and Tiktok.
Okorie’s case stemmed from a petition by Johnson-Okojie’s lawyer, in which sundry allegations were made against Okorie and Ifeoma.
“This malicious statement, clearly targeted at our client, was published with the intent to cause irreparable reputational injury, incite hatred, provoke unrest among the public and further harass and emotionally traumatize our client.
“The tone, content, and framing of the publication aim to portray our client as a destructive person, despite her widely known public image as a humanitarian and devout Christian mother.
“The principal suspect, Angela Okorie, has demonstrated a relentless and calculated effort to incite public hatred and threaten public peace by repeatedly using her social media platform for criminal intimidation, false accusations, and criminal defamation.
“She has become the most aggressive and persistent in this malicious campaign.”
