The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia has adjourned the ongoing trial involving an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers accused of cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar. The trial has been postponed until February 16.
The adjournment followed an application made by Leyii Abueh, counsel representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF. Abueh requested the court’s permission to re-arraign the defendants based on an amended charge.
It would be recalled that two witnesses had given their evidence in the ongoing trial of the lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and his co-defendants.
One of the witnesses, Rabiu-Rangers Abdullahi, on Monday, told the court how David Daure, the 2nd defendant, attempted to use the name of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, to defraud Sen. Umar.
The AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had, in December 2025, taken over the prosecution of the matter from the Inspector General of Police.
Abdulrahman (1st defendant) and his co-defendants were initially being prosecuted by the I-G.
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The I-G, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony Egwu on Oct. 6, 2025, named David Daure, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar as 2nd to 5th defendants, respectively.
The defendants were, on Oct. 30, 2025, arraigned on 11 counts which also bordered on alleged cybercrime, defamation, advance fee fraud, among others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and they were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre before they were admitted to bail.
Upon resumed trial on Tuesday, the prosecution lawyer, Abueh, informed the court that though the matter was for continuation of trial, she said an amended charge had been filed.
The lawyer sought the permission of the court to substitute the initial charge with the amended one.
The defence lawyers, including Abdul Mohammed, SAN; Hamza Danttani, Afix Matanmi and A A. Badmus, did not raise any objection and the judge ordered that the charge be read so that the defendants could take their plea.
However, while the counts were being read, the judge asked the prosecuting counsel if there is any significant change in the amended charge.
Abueh told the court that in the initial charge, there was a mistake in the name of the lawmaker, who is the nominal complainant.
She also said that the law cited in the earlier charge was not appropriately captured and that the prosecution had additional evidence to tender in the trial.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia then advised that if the defence lawyers would not oppose to correcting the minor mistakes in the earlier charge and the need to bring in additional evidence, the amended charge could be dropped in order to accelerate hearing in the trial.
The judge, who said justice delay is justice denied, said such move would save the precious time of the court on hearing another bail applications of the defendants, among others.
The defence and the prosecution lawyers agreed with the judge’s suggestion and the matter was adjourned until Feb. 16 for the prosecution to address the court on the need for the amended charge and for the defence to respond appropriately.
In count one of the earlier charges, 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 was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his Tiktok handle with username “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, among others.
NAN
