After spending 30 days in detention, Imo-based journalist and publisher of First Citizen Newspaper, Ejike Ogbonna, has been granted bail by a Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri.
The court, presided over by Magistrate C. J. Uzoechi, granted bail in the sum of ₦2 million, with stringent conditions.
These include the presentation of a surety who must provide proof of ownership of landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, as well as endorsement by a recognized traditional ruler.
Ogbonna, who was brought to court in handcuffs, is facing a four-count charge related to alleged cyberbullying and defamation.
He is accused of defaming the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri, through a voice note allegedly shared on social media platforms.
While ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Uzoechi affirmed that the alleged offense is bailable under the law, and adjourned the case to October 3, 2025, for further hearing.
The journalist’s prolonged detention and the nature of the charges have sparked concerns within the media community in the state.
Several journalists have described the development as an attack on press freedom and called on the Imo State Police Commissioner to caution officers against being used by political figures to intimidate or silence media practitioners.
