*’It’s A Bailable Offence’
By Okerafor Athanasius, Jalingo
Barely one month after his arrest and detention at the Jalingo correctional facility for allegedly defaming Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, and his 2027 election running mate, Hajia Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, the Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Jalingo has granted bail to Facebook (Fb) user, Fonya Sule, for the alleged action.
The court held that the offence is bailable.
Our correspondent gathered that Mr. Sule was arrested and detained on 12 August, 2026 for posting on his Fb page that “the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 running mate to Governor Kefas, Haj. Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim (aka Aunty Zee) should be very careful with his boss”, adding “the governor doesn’t take it easy with women.”
The post read further: “Aunty Zee be very careful ooh, if not u will soon carry belle, that your boss na one time BuGu.”
Perceived as having defamed Gov. Kefas and his running mate, Haj. Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, Sule was arrested and remanded at the Jalingo correctional centre where he spent one month.
It was further gathered that the State Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, subsequently, on 30 September, 2026, filed a criminal case against Sule before the Upper Area Court Jalingo, over the post.
In suit No: CM/138/28 and filed pursuant to Section 122 (A) of the Taraba State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2021, dated 30 September, 2026, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), A. D. Mustapha, alongside four other state counsels, the government claimed that Sule’s alleged action was a deliberate attempt to harm the reputation of Gov. Kefas and Hajiya Ibrahim.
It contended that the action amounted to criminal defamation and injurious falsehood punishable under Sections 392 and 393 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 98, Laws of Taraba State, 1997.
While detained at the correctional facility, Sule’s counsel, Pius Danba Pius, later approached FHC Jalingo seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights and praying the court to grant his client bail since the matter was bailable and the prosecution yet to prove the case against the defendant (Sule).
Speaking to journalists at the Jalingo correctional centre, Barrister Pius confirmed that the court considered the offence as bailable, and thus granted bail to his client, noting that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
