The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a legal practitioner, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Abuja, until November 10.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia issued the order on Thursday following their arraignment on allegations of cyberbullying, extortion, and advance fee fraud involving Senator Shehu Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The defendants, Ahmed Abdulrahman, Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa, and Nasiru Abubakar, were arraigned on an 11-count charge filed by the Inspector General of Police.
According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired in 2025 to engage in cyberstalking against Senator Umar, an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).
In one of the charges, Abdulrahman was accused of posting a defamatory video on his TikTok handle, “Kibanna Channel,” and YouTube, alleging that the senator sponsored banditry — a claim prosecutors said was false and intended to cause public disorder and fear.
Another defendant, Daure David, allegedly attempted to extort ₦5 million from the senator under the guise of preventing protests against him.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel Victor Okoye urged the court to remand the accused at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending trial. However, defence counsel Affis Matanmi applied for bail, arguing that Abdulrahman, being a legal practitioner, had previously complied with police bail conditions and would not interfere with investigations.
Okoye opposed the application, stating that the defendant had continued to engage in cyberbullying even after being granted administrative bail. He maintained that the law does not grant lawyers any preferential treatment in criminal proceedings.
After listening to both sides, Justice Offili-Ajumogobia ordered the defendants’ remand at the Force CID until November 10, directing the defence to file a further affidavit and reply on points of law in response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
