The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 30 for the arraignment of five suspects for allegedly cyberbullying chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Sen Shehu Umar.
Although counsel to the prosecution, Anthony Egwu, and the defence lawyers, Hamza Dantani and Affis Matanmi, were in court, the trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, was absent.
The matter was subsequently fixed for October 30 for the defendants to be arraigned.
An 11-count charge had been preferred against Ahmed Abdulrahman, 41 years, Daure David, 35, Ishaq Muhammed, 25, Abdulrashid Musa, 30, and Nasir Abubakar, 21, as 1st to 5th defendants respectively by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police.
The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 dated Oct. 3 and filed by Egwu on October 6, is on allegations bordering on cybercrime, advance fee fraud, among others.
In count one, the suspects were alleged to have, sometime in 2025, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cyberstalking against Sen. Shehu Buba Umar.”
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section. 21(1)(b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
In count three, Abdulrahman, the 1st suspect, was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his Tiktok handle with username “Kibanna Channel” and his Youtube channel to defame the lawmaker.
The suspect was alleged to have stated that “Sen. Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a sponsor of banditry and further called for his investigation.
COURTESY: Blueprint
