A Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, granted bail in the sum of N2 million to the Publisher of First Citizen Newspaper, Ejike Ogbonna.
Other bail conditions include providing a surety who must show proof of ownership of a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and a traditional ruler to endorse the bail bond.
Presiding Magistrate C.J. Uzoechi, who granted the bail application, noted that the matter is bailable.
The matter was adjourned to October 3, 2025, for hearing.
Ejike Ogbonna, who was brought to court in handcuffs, is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying.
He is accused of defaming the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri, through a voice note allegedly circulated via social media.
It was gathered that Ogbonna spent about a month in the Owerri Correctional Centre before his release on bail.
