The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 30, 2025, for the arraignment of five individuals accused of cyberbullying Senator Shehu Umar, the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The case, initially scheduled for Tuesday, could not proceed as planned due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. The prosecution counsel, Anthony Egwu, and the defence lawyers Hamza Dantani and Affis Matanmi were in court.
Following this development, the court adjourned the matter to October 30 so the defendants could enter their pleas.
The five defendants — Ahmed Abdulrahman (41), Daure David (35), Ishaq Muhammed (25), Abdulrashid Musa (30), and Nasir Abubakar (21) — are facing an 11-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police, bordering on alleged cybercrime, advance fee fraud, and defamation.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, dated October 3 and filed on October 6 by Egwu, the accused persons allegedly conspired in 2025 to commit cyberstalking against Senator Umar.
In one of the counts, the first defendant, Abdulrahman, was accused of intentionally publishing a video on his TikTok handle, “Kibanna Channel,” and on YouTube in which he allegedly claimed that “Senator Shehu Baba Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sponsor of banditry.”
The prosecution said the statement, made via computer systems and networks, was false and capable of causing public disorder, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) and punishable under Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).
Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth defendants — Musa and Abubakar — released separate video recordings apologising to the lawmaker, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, for their defamatory acts.
The court is expected to take the defendants’ pleas when the matter resumes on October 30.
