By Ezekiel Awojide, Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has taken over the prosecution of an Abuja lawyer and four social media influencers accused of cyberbullying serving Senator Umar Shehu Buba.
The Minister took over the trial of the defendants from the Inspector General of Police at Thursday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the proceedings before Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia, Nueebu Leyii Abueh announced appearance and the takeover of the prosecution on behalf of the AGF.
The counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice told Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia that the AGF has taken full charge of the case from the Police.
The takeover of the trial came amid the granting of stringent bail conditions to the defendants by Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia.
In three separate rulings on bail applications, the Judge admitted them to bail in the sum of N1M each and one surety each in the like sum.
The surety must be a grade level 12 in the federal government employment.
In the alternative to government employees, the surety must be a person 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 a Certificate of Occupancy, and the original must be deposited with the Registrar of the Court.
Besides, the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and deposit two passport photographs each before being released on bail.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia ordered that the inability of the defendants to meet the bail conditions would automatically lead to the revocation of the bail.
Pending the perfection of the bail, the Judge ordered that they should remain in custody.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to January 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Ahmed Abdulrahman, a lawyer
Four other Social Media influencers are now being prosecuted by the Inspector-General (IGP) on allegations bordering on cyberbullying, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The IGP, in charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony Egwu on October 6, named Abdulrahman, 41 years; Daure David, 35; Ishaq Muhammed, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21, as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
The defendants were, on October 30, arraigned on an 11-count charge which also bordered on cybercrime, defamation, and advance fee fraud, among others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and Justice Ajumogobia ordered their remand at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
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, the 1st defendant, was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his TikTok handle with the 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.
In one of the counts, Daure David was accused of attempting to collect N5 million from Senator Umar Umar under false pretenses that the money would be used to settle those planning to protest against him.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to January 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
