The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of a lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others accused of cyberbullying and blackmailing a serving senator, Shehu Umar, pending a ruling on their bail application.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia directed that the defendants be remanded at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Abuja, until November 10, when the court will decide on their bail.
The co-defendants — Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar — were arraigned on an 11-count charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The charges border on cyberbullying, extortion, and advance fee fraud, allegedly targeting Senator Umar, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defence counsel Affis Matanmi urged the court to grant bail, noting that the first defendant is a legal practitioner and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and arguing that the offences were bailable. He assured that his clients would not interfere with investigations or witnesses.
He also reminded the court that the police had previously granted Abdulrahman administrative bail, which he did not violate.
However, prosecution counsel Victor Okoye opposed the application, alleging that after being granted bail earlier, Abdulrahman was involved in two additional cyberbullying cases and is central to five of the eleven charges before the court.
Okoye argued that being a lawyer does not entitle the defendant to any special treatment, as no section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 or the 1999 Constitution (as amended) confers such privilege.
Justice Ajumogobia, after hearing both sides, ordered the remand of all defendants and directed the defence to file a further affidavit and reply on points of law to address the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to cyberstalk 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 one count, Abdulrahman was accused of posting a video on his TikTok and YouTube channels, “Kibanna Channel,” falsely alleging that Senator Umar was a sponsor of banditry — a claim prosecutors said was intended to incite public disorder and endanger the senator’s life.
Another defendant, Daure David, was accused of attempting to extort ₦5 million from the lawmaker under the pretense that the money would be used to stop a planned protest against him.
The case was adjourned to November 10, 2025, for a ruling on the bail applications.
