A lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and his co-defendants have been ordered to remain in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, of the Force Headquarters after the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed November 24 for ruling on the lawyer’s bail application.
Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia adjourned the case specifically to deliver her ruling on Abdulrahman’s bail application and for the hearing of the substantive matter.
The five defendants are being prosecuted by the Inspector-General, IGP, on allegations bordering on cyberbullying Senator Shehu Umar, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The IGP named Abdulrahman, 41; Daure David, 35; Ishaq Muhammed, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21, as the 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, was dated October 3 and filed by Anthony Egwu on October 6.
The defendants were, on October 30, arraigned on an 11-count charge, which also included offences such as cybercrime, defamation, and advance fee fraud, among others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts, and Justice Ajumogobia ordered their remand at the FCID.
Upon the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Afeez Matanmi, counsel for Abdulrahman, told the court that the matter was scheduled for the continuation of the hearing of his client’s bail application.
He said that, in compliance with the judge’s directive, he had filed a reply on points of law to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
Matanmi, who said the application was dated and filed on November 3, prayed the court to grant their request.
A.A. Badmus, counsel for the 4th defendant, also informed the court that they had a pending bail application.
The judge, however, told Badmus that the application could not be taken because the time was far spent.
“I will hear you on Monday,” she said.
Justice Ajumogobia then adjourned the matter until November 24 for ruling on the 1st defendant’s bail application as well as for mention.
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 username “Kibanna Channel” and his YouTube channel to defame the lawmaker by linking him to the 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 he allegedly 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 under the false pretence that the money would be used to settle those planning to protest against him.
