A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of ₦5 million to activist and social media commentator, Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” in an ongoing cyber-related trial.
Ruling on Monday, May 18, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the bail be secured with one surety in a like sum, subject to strict verification conditions.
The court directed that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction with a verifiable fixed address for at least four years, backed by proof of residence to be deposited at the registry.
It further held that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of three months’ salary, an official letter of identification, and proof of pensionable employment. The defendant was also ordered to deposit his international passport.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution witness Uruntu Douglas, a DSS operative, told the court he joined the investigation after being transferred from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
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He said the defendant made a voluntary statement in the presence of his lawyers and allegedly used military-supplied images to produce videos circulated on social media without official verification.
Douglas also said forensic analysis of the defendant’s phone produced extracted videos, chats with soldiers, and other social media data, with a certificate of compliance issued after examination.
Defence counsel Sam Amadi told the court the defence had not been served with key prosecution documents, prompting an apology from the prosecution, which admitted an oversight.
The court admitted the DSS report as Exhibit A and accepted an iPhone, a flash drive, and the certificate of compliance tendered by the prosecution. The defence objected to the flash drive, arguing its contents were not demonstrated in court.
The case was adjourned until May 25, 2026, for continuation of trial.