Court Orders Remand of Lawyer and Four Others Over Alleged Cyberbullying of Senator
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Thursday ordered the remand of a legal practitioner, Ahmed Abdulrahman, alongside four co-defendants, at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Abuja, until 10 November 2025.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia made the order following their arraignment on an 11-count charge bordering on cyberbullying, cyberstalking, advance fee fraud, and extortion. The prosecution was instituted by the Inspector General of Police.
The Defendants are: Ahmed Abdulrahman (legal practitioner), Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa, Nasiru Abubakar
They were arraigned by the police on eleven counts bordering on cyberbulling, advance fee fraud, and extortion.
– Count One: The defendants were alleged to have conspired, sometime in 2025, to commit cyberstalking against Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. The offence is said to contravene Section 27(1)(b) and is punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).
– Count Three: Abdulrahman was specifically accused of publishing a video via his TikTok handle “Kibanna Channel” and YouTube channel, alleging that Senator Umar was a sponsor of banditry. The prosecution contends that the statement was false, intended to defame the senator, incite public disorder, and instill fear of death. This was alleged to violate Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act (as amended).
– In another count, Daure David was accused of attempting to obtain ₦5 million from the senator under false pretence, claiming the funds would be used to dissuade planned protests against him.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Victor Okoye, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
However, defence counsel, Affis Matanmi, applied for bail on behalf of Abdulrahman, arguing that:
– He is a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
– He had previously been granted administrative bail by the police, which he did not breach.
– He would not interfere with investigations or witnesses if admitted to bail.
The prosecution opposed the application, contending that Abdulrahman had engaged in further acts of cyberbullying after being granted police bail and featured prominently in five of the eleven counts. Okoye further argued that the ACJA 2015 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) do not accord legal practitioners any special treatment in criminal proceedings.
After hearing both sides, Justice Offili-Ajumogobia ordered that the defendants remain in custody at the Force CID, Area 10, until 10 November 2025. The court directed defence counsel to file a further affidavit and reply on points of law to address the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
The matter was adjourned to November 2025 for further hearing.
