Court remands lawyer, four others for alleged cyber bullying of senator Umar

By Obasola Olatunde 

Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of a lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Abuja, over alleged cyber bullying, blackmail, and extortion of serving Senator Shehu Baba Umar, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

The five defendants Abdulrahman, Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on an 11 count charge bordering on cyberstalking, advance fee fraud, and extortion.

They all pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before the court on Thursday.

Prosecution counsel Victor Okoye urged the court to remand the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending trial. However, defence counsel Affis Matanmi moved a bail application for Abdulrahman, arguing that his client, a practicing lawyer, had earlier been granted administrative bail by the police and did not violate its terms.

Okoye opposed the application, alleging that Abdulrahman committed two additional cyber offences after being granted bail and that he featured in five of the eleven counts, stressing that “no special treatment should be accorded to a lawyer facing criminal charges.”

After listening to both sides, Justice Ajumogobia ordered that all defendants be remanded at the FCID until November 10, to allow the defence file further affidavits and responses to the prosecution’s counterclaims. The matter was adjourned to the same date for further hearing.

According to the charge sheet, Abdulrahman and his co-defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to commit cyberstalking against Senator Umar, 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 one count, the lawyer was accused of using his TikTok channel “Kibanna Channel” and YouTube to post a video falsely linking the lawmaker to the sponsorship of banditry, with intent to damage his reputation and incite public unrest.

Another defendant, Daure David, was alleged to have attempted to extort ₦5 million from the senator under the pretext of using it to “settle” potential protesters against him.

The case continues on November 10, 2025.