Cyberbullying: 5 To Be Arraigned For Defaming Senator

The Federal High Court successful Abuja has fixed October 30, 2025, for the arraignment of 5 individuals accused of cyberbullying Senator Shehu Umar, the president of the Senate Committee connected National Security and Intelligence.

The case, initially scheduled for Tuesday, could not proceed arsenic planned owed to the lack of the proceedings judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. The prosecution counsel, Anthony Egwu, and the defence lawyers Hamza Dantani and Affis Matanmi were successful court.

Following this development, the tribunal adjourned the substance to October 30 truthful the defendants could participate their pleas.

The 5 defendants — Ahmed Abdulrahman (41), Daure David (35), Ishaq Muhammed (25), Abdulrashid Musa (30), and Nasir Abubakar (21) — are facing an 11-count complaint filed by the Inspector-General of Police, bordering connected alleged cybercrime, beforehand interest fraud, and defamation.

According to the complaint marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, dated October 3 and filed connected October 6 by Egwu, the accused persons allegedly conspired successful 2025 to perpetrate cyberstalking against Senator Umar.

In 1 of the counts, the archetypal defendant, Abdulrahman, was accused of intentionally publishing a video connected his TikTok handle, “Kibanna Channel,” and connected YouTube successful which helium allegedly claimed that “Senator Shehu Baba Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is simply a sponsor of banditry.”

The prosecution said the statement, made via machine systems and networks, was mendacious and susceptible of causing nationalist disorder, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) and punishable nether Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

Meanwhile, the 4th and 5th defendants — Musa and Abubakar — released abstracted video recordings apologising to the lawmaker, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, for their defamatory acts.

The tribunal is expected to instrumentality the defendants’ pleas erstwhile the substance resumes connected October 30.