The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to social media critic and politician, Garus Gololo, who is facing trial over allegations of cybercrime and the alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The court on Thursday admitted Gololo to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer in the Federal Civil Service.
Following the ruling, the court adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
Gololo was arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and the alleged defamation of the Senate President.
The social media commentator had earlier been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by the Federal High Court after pleading not guilty to the charges, which include alleged cyberstalking, defamation and incitement.
The prosecution, instituted by the Inspector-General of Police, arose from a viral video and Facebook posts in which Gololo allegedly claimed that Akpabio said northerners must support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 or risk being expelled from Nigeria.
According to the allegations, Gololo claimed that Akpabio declared that “with or without the North, Tinubu would win.”
The Office of the Senate President denied making the alleged remarks, describing the claims as “completely false, malicious, and deliberately intended to mislead the public and incite tension.”
In an earlier statement, the office said the allegation had “no basis in fact” and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
It also called on security agencies to investigate and arrest Gololo, demanding that he provide evidence to substantiate the claims and indicate where and when the alleged statement was made.
The statement, signed by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Malam Jibril Lawal Tafida, further accused Gololo of using insulting language against Akpabio and alleged that he had repeatedly attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu for political reasons.
The Senate President’s office urged Nigerians, particularly stakeholders in Northern Nigeria, to reject what it described as misleading and inflammatory narratives capable of undermining national unity.
Gololo, however, pleaded not guilty to all seven counts when he was first arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
His counsel, Mohammed Habu, represented him during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, in May, the Nigerian Army distanced itself from Gololo, declaring that he was neither a serving nor retired officer of the army and had never worked with it in any capacity.
The Army made the clarification following reports which described Gololo as a retired Major General who was arrested at Grand Square Supermarket in Abuja after criticising Senate President Akpabio over comments linked to the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement, the Nigerian Army faulted reports identifying Gololo as a retired Army General, insisting that the claim was false and misleading.
(SaharaReporters)
