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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Following their inability to meet the bail conditions imposed on them by a Federal High Court, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Ahmed Abdulrahman, alongside four others accused of cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar, have been returned to custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
Others are Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa, and Nasir Abubakar.
Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday slammed some bail conditions considered to be tough on the lawyer accused of cyberbullying serving Senator Shehu Buba Umar.
Among others, the judge had ordered that the lawyer must produce two sureties that will stand for him throughout the trial.
In a ruling on his bail application, Justice Ajumogobia ordered that the two sureties must have landed properties in the Federal Capital Territory and that the properties must have certificates of occupancy.
Besides, the judge ordered that the original copies of the certificates of occupancy must be deposited with the Registrar of the court.
Also, the two sureties must deposit their international passports with the Registrar of the court throughout the duration of the trial.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia, while granting the lawyer bail in the sum of N5m and two sureties in the like sum, ordered that the lawyer must be kept in custody until he is able to perfect the bail conditions.
However, three days after the bail was granted, the defendant had not been able to get sureties with properties in Abuja with certificates of occupancy to stand for him, prompting his return to custody in FCID.
Ahmed Abdulrahman, the lawyer, and four others are being prosecuted by the Inspector-General (IGP) on allegations bordering on cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
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The IGP, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony Egwu on October 6, named Abdulrahman, 41 years; Daure David, 35; Ishaq Muhammed, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21, as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
The defendants were, on October 30, arraigned on an 11-count charge which also bordered on cybercrime, defamation, advance fee fraud, among others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and Justice Ajumogobia ordered their remand at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
In count one, the defendants were alleged to have, sometime in 2025, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cyberstalking against Senator Shehu Buba Umar.”
The offence is said to be 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 count three, Abdulrahman, the 1st defendant, was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his TikTok handle with user name “Kibanna Channel” and his YouTube channel to defame the lawmaker by linking him to sponsorship of banditry with a view to tarnishing his image as a serving Senator.
The suspect was alleged to have stated that “Senator Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a sponsor of banditry and called for his investigation, 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”.
The offence is also said to be contrary to Section 24(1)(5) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024, among other counts.
In one of the counts, Daure David was accused of attempting to collect N5 million from Senator Shehu Buba Umar under false pretence that the money will be used to settle those planning to protest against him.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to December 9 for further mention.
