ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to social media activist and commentator Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” in the sum of ₦5 million.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the bail on Monday with stringent conditions. The bail must be secured by one surety in the same amount who has resided within the court’s jurisdiction for at least four years.
The surety is required to be a federal civil servant of Grade Level 15 or above, provide proof of residence (tenancy agreement or Certificate of Occupancy), evidence of at least three months’ salary, a letter of authentication from their head of department, and proof of pensionable employment. The surety must also deposit their passport with the court.
The trial has been adjourned to May 25, 2026.
Case Details
Justice Crack is facing charges related to alleged cybercrime. During proceedings, the first prosecution witness, Uruntu Douglas, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, testified that he got to know the defendant in the course of investigations.
The witness told the court that soldiers allegedly sent pictures to the defendant, who then reportedly created videos from the images and posted them on social media without verifying their authenticity with military authorities.
Investigators reportedly extracted data from the defendant’s phone, including videos posted online, conversations with soldiers, chats with his godfather allegedly discussing protests, and excerpts from his social media accounts.
A certificate of compliance was said to have been issued after a forensic examination of the device. The defence, led by Sam Amadi, reportedly complained that they had not been served with the full investigation report and other relevant documents.
Reactions
The development has generated mixed reactions online, with some hailing the bail as a victory for justice while others questioned the severity of the conditions attached to it.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between security agencies and online activists regarding the dissemination of unverified content involving military and security matters.
