Court gavel
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled October 30 for the formal arraignment of five individuals accused of cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The defendants were expected to enter their pleas on Tuesday. However, the proceeding was stalled due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. Though both prosecution counsel, Anthony Egwu, and defence lawyers, Hamza Dantani and Affis Matanmi, were present in court, the matter was adjourned and rescheduled for October 30.
The Inspector-General of Police has filed an 11-count charge against the accused — Ahmed Abdulrahman (41), Daure David (35), Ishaq Muhammed (25), Abdulrashid Musa (30), and Nasir Abubakar (21). The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, was submitted on October 6 following an initial filing dated October 3.
The charges encompass allegations of cybercrime, conspiracy, and advance fee fraud.
According to count one, the suspects allegedly collaborated in 2025 to “commit an offence, to wit; cyberstalking against Sen. Shehu Buba Umar,” in violation of Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended in 2024).
In a separate charge, the first defendant, Abdulrahman, is accused of disseminating a video via his TikTok and YouTube platforms — under the names “Kibanna Channel” — in which he purportedly claimed:
> “Sen. Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sponsor of banditry and further called for his investigation.”
Authorities allege the statements were knowingly false and intended to incite unrest, contravening Section 24(1)(5) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.
In a turn of events, two of the accused — Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar — have reportedly issued video apologies over their actions, which were described as defamatory toward the Bauchi South lawmaker.
NAN
