Lawyer, Others Remain in FCID Custody Over Alleged Cyberbullying of Senator Buba

Ahmed Abdulrahman, a lawyer, and his co-defendants have been ordered to stay in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Force Headquarters by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia adjourned the case against them on Wednesday and scheduled a hearing on November 24 to rule on the lawyer’s bail request.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is prosecuting the five defendants for allegedly engaging in cyberbullying, according to Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

Abdulrahman, 41; Daure David, 35; Ishaq Muhammad, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21, were ranked first through fifth by the IGP. Anthony Egwu filed the charge on October 6. It was dated October 3 and had the number FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025.

On October 30, they were charged with eleven counts that included offenses like advance fee fraud, slander, and cybercrime. Judge Ajumogobia ordered their remand at the FCID after they entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

Afeez Matanmi, representing Abdulrahman, informed the court during the hearing on Wednesday that his client’s bail application had been delayed. He stated that he submitted a legal response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit in accordance with the judge’s order.

Matanmi asked the court to grant their request, stating that the application was dated and filed on November 3. In a similar vein, the fourth defendant’s attorney, A. A. Badmus, told the court that they had also applied for bail.

However, Badmus was informed by the judge that the application could not be accepted due to the expired deadline. Justice Ajumogobia stated, “I will hear you on Monday.” After then, she postponed the decision about the first defendant’s bail request until November 24.

The defendants in count one were accused of conspiring “to commit an offence, to wit; cyberstalking against Senator Shehu Buba Umar” at some point in 2025, in violation of Section 27(1)(b) and subject to punishment under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.

In count three, Abdulrahman, the first defendant, was accused of purposefully sending a video via his YouTube channel and Tiktok account, “Kibanna Channel,” sometime in 2025 in order to discredit the lawmaker by associating him with banditry sponsorship.

Abdulrahman’s designation of Senator Umar as a sponsor of banditry, according to the prosecutor, was “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.”

Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024 is violated by the offense.

Daure David was charged in another count with trying to obtain N5 million from the Senator on the false premise that the funds would be used to pay off individuals who intended to demonstrate against him.