Court Orders Detention of Lawyer, Four Others for Cyberbullying Senator

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of a lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others accused of cyberbullying a serving senator, Shehu Umar.

Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia ruled that the defendants be remanded at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja until November 10, pending a decision on their bail applications.

Other defendants named in the case include Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar. They were charged by the Inspector-General of Police with offences bordering on cyberbullying, fraud, and extortion.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge, which alleges they blackmailed the senator, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

Defence counsel Affis Matanmi urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the first defendant is a practising lawyer who had earlier been released on administrative bail by the police and had shown commitment to due process.

However, prosecution counsel Victor Okoye opposed the request, telling the court that Abdulrahman had allegedly engaged in two additional cyberbullying cases while on bail and played a major role in five of the 11 charges.

Okoye insisted that the fact that Abdulrahman is a legal practitioner does not entitle him to any special treatment under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

After hearing both sides, Justice Ajumogobia ordered the defendants’ remand and directed the defence to file additional affidavits and legal arguments responding to the prosecution’s claims.

According to court documents, the defendants conspired in 2025 to commit cyberstalking against Senator Umar, an offence under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 (as amended in 2024).

One count specifically accuses Abdulrahman of using his TikTok and YouTube channels — under the name Kibanna Channel — to circulate a video falsely linking the senator to the sponsorship of banditry, allegedly aimed at tarnishing his image and inciting public unrest.

In another charge, defendant David is accused of attempting to extort ₦5 million from the lawmaker under the guise of using the funds to prevent a protest against him.

The court adjourned the matter to a later date for the determination of the bail application.