Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to a social media commentator and politician, Garus Gololo, who is standing trial over allegations of cybercrime and the defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The court admitted Gololo to bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum, ruling that the surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer in the federal civil service.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who presided over the proceedings, adjourned the case until September 22, 2026, for the continuation of trial. Gololo had earlier been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre after pleading not guilty to the charges.
Gololo is facing a seven-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force, bordering on alleged cybercrime, cyberstalking, defamation and incitement. According to the prosecution, Gololo published a viral video and Facebook posts claiming that Akpabio said northerners must support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027 or risk being expelled from Nigeria. The charge also stated that Gololo alleged the Senate President said "with or without the North, Tinubu would win."
The allegations triggered widespread controversy and condemnation, particularly across Northern Nigeria, where the purported remarks generated heated political debate.
The Office of the Senate President vehemently denied that Akpabio ever made such statements, describing the claims as "completely false, malicious, and deliberately intended to mislead the public and incite tension." In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Malam Jibril Lawal Tafida, the office maintained that the allegations had "no basis in fact" and urged Nigerians to disregard them.
The statement further accused Gololo of repeatedly using insulting language against Akpabio and alleged that his criticisms were politically motivated attacks directed not only at the Senate President but also at the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu. The Senate President's office called on security agencies to investigate Gololo and compel him to provide evidence, including the time, venue, and circumstances under which the alleged remarks were purportedly made.
The controversy surrounding Gololo was further heightened in May when the Nigerian Army publicly disowned claims that he was a retired Major General. The military intervention followed reports suggesting that Gololo had been arrested at Grand Square Supermarket in Abuja after criticising Akpabio over comments linked to the 2027 presidential election. In a formal clarification, the Nigerian Army categorically stated that Gololo was neither a serving nor retired officer and had never served in the military in any capacity, describing contrary reports as false and misleading.
The case, which sits at the intersection of politics, free speech, and Nigeria's cybercrime laws, has continued to attract national attention amid growing debates over the use of legal instruments to address contentious political commentary on social media. Gololo's defence counsel, Mohammed Habu, represented him during the arraignment and secured the bail application, maintaining that his client remained innocent until proven guilty and was prepared to face trial.
The matter was adjourned for further proceedings as Gololo moves to perfect his bail conditions pending trial.
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