Alleged cyberbullying: Court adjourns lawyer, others’ trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers accused of cyberbullying Sen. Shehu Umar until Tuesday for continuation of trial.

Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia adjourned the matter following an oral application by Abueh Leyii, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), to allow them prepared the evidence against the defendants after the takeover of the case.

The AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had, in December 2025, taken over the prosecution of the matter from the Inspector General (I-G) of Police.

Upon resumed hearing on Monday, Leyii, who is a Chief State Counsel, informed the court that the AGF, having taken over the matter, conducted a review of the case.

She said upon the review of the matter, there were some issues in the charge that needed to be looked into.

The lawyer, who said a letter had been written to the police, said the police authorities were yet to furnish her office with the information.

“We have written to the police and we are waiting for their response,” she said.

Leyii, therefore, sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution get response from the police for proper prosecution of the defendants.

Justice Offili-Ajumogobia adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 for continuation of trial after the defence lawyer’s did not oppose the application.

Abdulrahman (1st defendant) and his co-defendants were initially being prosecuted by the I-G for allegedly cyberbullying Sen. Umar, Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

The I-G, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony Egwu on Oct. 6, 2025, named Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar as 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.

The defendants were, on Oct. 30, 2025, arraigned on 11-count charge which also bordered on alleged cybercrime, defamation, advance fee fraud, among others.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and their counsel filed applications for their bail.

Justice Offili-Ajumogobia had, on Nov. 24, 2025, admitted Adbulrahman to a N50 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

Also in three separate rulings on bail applications for the co-defendants, the judge admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in the like sum.

The sureties, the judge said must be a grade level 12 officer in the employment of the Federal Government.

In the alternative to being government employees, the sureties must be persons of standing repute and must have landed property at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The property must have Certificate of Occupancy and the original document must be deposited with the registrar of the court.

Besides, the sureties must swear to affidavit of means and deposit two passport photograph each.

Justice Offili-Ajumogobia ordered that inability of the defendants to meet the bail conditions would automatically lead to revocation of the bail.

Pending the perfection of the bail, she ordered that they should remain in custody.

In count one, the defendants were alleged to have, sometime in 2025, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cyberstalking against Senator Shehu Buba Umar.”

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.

In count three, Abdulrahman was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his Tiktok handle with user name “Kibanna Channel” and his Youtube channel to defame the lawmaker by linking him to sponsorship of banditry with a view to tarnishing his image as a serving Senator.

The suspect was alleged to have stated that “Senator Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a sponsor of banditry and called for his investigation, a statement you made by means of computer systems and network knowing same to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and causing the Senator fear of death”.

The offence Is also said to be contrary to Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024, among other counts, among others.