By Adesakin Adefemi
Nollywood actress Angela Okorie has been remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre following her arraignment over alleged cyber-related offences. She was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department and taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
Filmmaker Ajemba Stanley has criticised the process, describing it as an abuse of power, and vowed to travel to Abuja to secure her release. Stanley wrote on social media, “You arrested Angela Okorie at midnight yesterday, flew her to Abuja as early as 6am, and this morning took her to court, where she was remanded in Suleja prison”.
The police have yet to issue an official statement detailing the specific charges, but industry sources suggested that the case may be linked to Okorie’s long-running and public feud with fellow actress Mercy Johnson. The dispute escalated last year after Okorie made controversial claims about Johnson’s health and accused her of hypocrisy, allegations that sparked widespread backlash online.
Okorie’s arrest has sparked concerns about the use of cybercrime laws to suppress free speech and silence critics. The Nigeria Police Force has been advised to ensure that the laws are not used to oppress Nigerians, and that due process is followed in the case.
Stanley has urged authorities to allow due legal process, saying “whoever is in charge of Angela Okorie’s arrest should let her go and approach a competent court”. The incident has sparked a heated debate about police brutality, human rights, and the use of cybercrime laws in Nigeria.
Okorie is alleged to have conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at large) to commit cyberstalking and defamation by calling fellow actress Mercy Johnson Okojie a “blood sucking demon” on social media platforms.
