Gololo Gets N5M Bail Over Akpabio Defamation Case

Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to social media critic Garus Gololo yesterday, set at N5 million with one surety who must be a Grade Level 12 civil servant. The man was facing seven counts of cybercrime and defamation for allegedly claiming Senate President Akpabio said northerners must support Tinubu in 2027 or risk expulsion from Nigeria.

What is interesting to me is the surety requirement. Grade Level 12 officer in this economy? That is specific. It means the court wants someone with steady federal government income, not just any businessman or politician. Gololo pleaded not guilty to all counts, and his lawyer Mohammed Habu was there. Trial has been adjourned to September 22.

The Senate President's office had previously denied the alleged remarks, calling them completely false and malicious. The Nigerian Army also came out in May to say Gololo is not and has never been a serving or retired army officer, after some reports described him as a retired Major General. So we have a social media commentator, a Senate President, and now the Army all in one story. How did we get here?