Court remands lawyer, four others over alleged cyberbullying of Bauchi senator

Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia has ordered that a lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others be remanded at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja until November 10. 

They were arraigned for allegedly cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who represents Bauchi South in the Senate.

The five defendants — Abdulrahman, Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar — were charged by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on 11 counts bordering on cyberbullying, fraud, and extortion. They all pleaded not guilty before Justice Ajumogobia.

Prosecution counsel, Victor Okoye, asked the court to remand the defendants at Kuje Correctional Centre, but defence lawyer Affis Matanmi applied for bail for his client, saying, “He is a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court and will not interfere with police investigation or witnesses if granted bail.”

However, Okoye objected, arguing that after being previously granted police bail, the lawyer allegedly committed two more acts of cyberbullying. 

“Although the first defendant is a confirmed legal practitioner, he does not deserve special treatment,” Okoye said, stressing that the law makes no exception for lawyers involved in criminal acts.

After listening to both sides, Justice Ajumogobia ruled that the defendants should remain in custody at the FCID until November 10. She also directed the defence to file additional affidavits in response to the prosecution’s counterclaims.

In one of the charges, the police alleged that Abdulrahman, using his TikTok account “Kibanna Channel” and a YouTube channel, posted a video accusing Senator Umar of sponsoring banditry. 

The video allegedly stated: “Senator Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sponsor of banditry and should be investigated.”

The prosecution said the statement was false and aimed at damaging the senator’s reputation and instilling fear. .
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Another count accused one of the co-defendants, Daure David, of trying to extort ₦5m from the senator under the pretence that the money would be used to stop planned protests against him.

The case was adjourned until November 10 for further hearing.