A Lagos-based journalist, Friday Alefia, was released from detention on Friday, December 19, 2025 after 22 days behind bars.
According to PREMIUM TIMES report on Friday December 19, 2025, Mr Alefia’s release followed delays in meeting the stringent bail conditions set by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking shortly after leaving Kuje Correctional Centre, Mr Alefia said he had finally fulfilled all court requirements.
“After I was granted bail, we couldn’t meet the conditions because the two sureties with the sum of N20 million each had to reside in Abuja,” he told PREMIUM TIMES via WhatsApp call.
Delivering the ruling on 27 November, the judge, Obiora Egwuatu granted Mr Alefia bail of N20 million, with two sureties of similar sum.
The judge directed that one of the sureties must be a federal civil servant on at least Grade Level 15 and provide an employment letter, promotion letter, and official identity card, with the originals for verification.
The second surety must submit an affidavit of means, a six-month bank statement, and tax clearance certificates for the past three years. Both sureties’ addresses must be verified by the court.
Mr Alefia was detained at the instance of Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, who accused him of publishing allegedly false reports.
The journalist faces five cybercrime charges related to the publications and had remained in custody for two months while attempting to meet the court’s bail requirements.
Mr Alefia’s lawyer, Israel Abida, told PREMIUM TIMES that proceedings stalled again on 24 November after the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit but neither served the defence nor submitted a copy to the court.
“Because neither the court nor the defence had the counter-affidavit, we could not proceed,” Mr Abida said.
Mr Alefia was also unable to move his bail application on 12 November for the same reason.
A similar lapse prompted the judge to adjourn the matter to 27 November and impose the N50,000 cost on the prosecution for what the defence described as an avoidable delay.
He was arrested in Lagos on 23 September, transferred to Abuja, and held for six weeks at the now-defunct SARS facility before being arraigned.
During the arraignment, the prosecution informed the court that the matter was scheduled for plea taking.
Mr Alefia pleaded not guilty to all five charges, while the judge entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of the second defendant.
Although the prosecution requested a hearing date, Mr Abida drew attention to a pending bail application.
The court noted that its file contained no such application, and the prosecution claimed it had not been served.
Mr Abida urged the court to grant a short adjournment, saying the defendant had been in custody for two months and that the prosecution was not opposed to bail.
The judge declined, saying he could not consider an unseen application.
He initially adjourned the trial until 27 January 2026 and ordered the defendant’s remand in Kuje prison before the defence secured an earlier bail hearing date of 27 November, 2025.
Mr Alefia now joins a growing list of Nigerians facing trial under the controversial cybercrime law.
The report recalled that Rights groups have increasingly criticised the Cybercrimes Act and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) as tools to intimidate journalists and civil society.
In December, 2025, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) warned that authorities were exploiting legal loopholes to suppress criticism and limit civic space.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had also called on the Nigerian authorities to release journalist Friday James Alefia, who has been in detention since September on cybercrime charges, for which he could face up to three years in jail.
“Nigerian authorities should swiftly drop the cybercrime charges against journalist Friday James Alefia, who has been sick and required hospital treatment since he was taken into custody in September,” said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal.
“Nigerian authorities must stop criminalizing the press and act urgently to prevent police and politicians intimidating journalists who report critically on governance issues.”
GIK/APA