An Imo State based-journalist, Ejike Ogbonna has been given a strict bail condition by a Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri.
The media worker, who is the publisher of First Citizen Newspaper, was arraigned for allegedly defaming a government official.
He has already spent 30 days in detention.
Upon his arraignment, the Presiding Magistrate, C. J. Uzoechi, ruled that the matter is a bailable offense.
He admitted the journalist to bail with the sum of N2 million after 30 days incarceration at Tiger base police unit.
Other bail conditions include the provision of a surety who must show proof of ownership of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and a traditional ruler to endorse the bail bond.
The case was later adjourned to October 3, 2025 for hearing.
The embattled journalist, who was brought to court in handcuffs, is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on alleged cyber bullying.
He is accused of defaming the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri through a voice note allegedly circulated via social media.
Colleagues of the detained journalist have described the development as an attack on media practitioners.
They called on the State Police Commissioner to warn officers of the Command to resist the temptation of being used by Government officials against citizens.
