Court grants bail to social media user after month-long detention

From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

The Federal High Court, sitting in Jalingo, has granted bail to a Facebook user, Fonya Sule, after he spent one month at the Jalingo Correctional Centre over a post targeted at Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, and his 2027 running mate.

The Taraba State government, through the Office of the Attorney-General, filed a criminal complaint against Sule before the Upper Area Court, Jalingo, on September 30, 2026, over a post credited to him, regarding Governor Kefas and his 2027 running mate, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim (Aunty Zee).

Court documents showed that on August 12, 2026, Sule posted on his Facebook wall warning the All Progressives Congress Taraba State Deputy Governorship candidate to be careful around Governor Kefas before he impregnates her.

The post read: “Aunty Zee be Very careful ooh, if not u will soon carry belle, that your boss na one time BuGu.”

Sule was arrested the following week and remanded at the correctional centre for criminal defamation.

In suit No: CM/138/28, filed pursuant to Section 122(A) of the Taraba State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2021 and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, A. D. Mustapha, alongside four state counsels, the prosecution claimed Sule’s post was a deliberate attempt to harm the reputation of the Governor and Hajiya Ibrahim, constituting criminal defamation and injurious falsehood under Sections 392 and 393 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 98, Laws of Taraba State, 1997.

Defence counsel, Pius Danba Pius, approached the Federal High Court for bail, arguing that the offence is bailable and the prosecution had yet to prove its case.

Addressing journalists at the correctional centre, Pius stated that the court granted bail after recognising the bailable nature of the charge, adding that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.