Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of a lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Abuja, over alleged cyberbullying and blackmail of Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District.
The defendants — Abdulrahman, Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Mohammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar — were arraigned on Thursday by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on an 11-count charge bordering on cyberstalking, advance fee fraud, and extortion.
According to the charge, the accused persons allegedly blackmailed Senator Umar, who also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
Upon reading the charges, all five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the prosecution, Victor Okoye, subsequently requested the court to remand the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Affis Matanmi, argued for bail, stating that his client, being a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court, would neither interfere with investigations nor abscond if granted bail.
Matanmi reminded the court that the police had earlier granted his client administrative bail, which he honoured without default, adding that “as a lawyer, he understands the consequences of jumping bail.”
The prosecution, however, vehemently opposed the bail application. Okoye argued that the first defendant, despite being previously granted bail, allegedly engaged in two additional acts of cyberbullying and was prominently mentioned in five of the eleven charges.
He maintained that being a legal practitioner does not entitle the defendant to any special consideration.
“There is no provision in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act or the 1999 Constitution that grants special treatment to legal practitioners involved in criminal offences,” Okoye submitted.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Ajumogobia ordered that the defendants be remanded at the FCID until November 10, 2025. She directed counsel to the first defendant to file a further affidavit and reply on points of law to address the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
The case was thereafter adjourned to November 10 for continuation.
According to count one of the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to commit cyberstalking against Senator Umar, contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended in 2024).
In count three, Barrister Abdulrahman was accused of uploading a defamatory video on his TikTok handle, “Kibanna Channel,” and YouTube, linking the Senator to the sponsorship of banditry — an act allegedly intended to damage his reputation and incite public unrest.
The prosecution further alleged that one of the co-defendants, Daure David, attempted to extort N5 million from Senator Umar under the false pretense that the funds would be used to placate individuals planning a protest against him.
