Court Remands Lawyer, Influencers Over Cyberbullying and Fake News Against Senator Buba
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of a legal practitioner, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four social media influencers at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) until November 10, 2025, following their arraignment on an 11-count charge bordering on cyber bullying, defamation, and dissemination of fake news against Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The case, instituted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accuses the five defendants of engaging in a coordinated online campaign to malign the Senator through false and malicious publications shared across multiple digital platforms.
The other defendants include Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar. All pleaded not guilty to the charges read before Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia on Thursday.
According to the charge sheet, the accused persons allegedly conspired to commit cyberstalking in violation of Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended in 2024).
The first defendant, Ahmed Abdulrahman, was said to have uploaded a defamatory video on his TikTok handle, “Kibanna Channel,” and YouTube channel, accusing Senator Buba of sponsoring banditry in parts of Northern Nigeria.
The prosecution stated that the false publication was “intended to incite public disorder and instill fear of death in the Senator,” describing it as a deliberate act to damage the lawmaker’s reputation and endanger his safety.
In another count, Daure David allegedly attempted to extort ₦5 million from the Senator under the pretext that the money would be used to pacify individuals planning a protest against him.
During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Victor Okoye strongly opposed the bail application moved by the defense, arguing that Abdulrahman had violated the terms of an earlier administrative bail granted by the police.
Okoye informed the court that after being released, the lawyer allegedly engaged in two additional acts of cyber bullying against the same complainant, describing his conduct as “a continuous abuse of privilege and an affront to due process.”
He urged the court not to grant bail, stressing that “no special treatment should be accorded to a legal practitioner who engages in criminal acts under the guise of advocacy.”
However, defense counsel Affis Matanmi pleaded with the court to exercise discretion in favor of his client, insisting that the lawyer had always honored police invitations and would not obstruct justice. Matanmi maintained that Abdulrahman, as an officer of the Supreme Court, “understands the gravity of the charges and the need to maintain decorum.”
After listening to both parties, Justice Ajumogobia ordered that all five defendants be remanded in custody at the FCID headquarters, Abuja, pending the next hearing.
The judge directed the defense counsel to file a further affidavit and reply to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit before the adjourned date to allow for a comprehensive hearing on the bail application.
The case was adjourned until November 10, 2025, for further proceedings.