An Abuja-based lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, accused of cyberbullying serving Senator Umar Shehu Buba, has been returned to custody at the Force Investigation Department FCID following his inability to perfect the bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The legal practitioner was returned to custody alongside four others, namely Daure David, 35; Ishaq Muhammed, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21, as the 2nd to 5th defendants respectively and put on trial along with him.
Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday slammed bail conditions considered to be tough on the lawyer.
Among other things, the Judge had ordered that the lawyer must produce two sureties who 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 a Certificate of Occupancy.
Additionally, the judge ordered that the original copies of the Certificate of Occupancy be deposited with the court registrar.
Also, the two sureties must deposit their Passport 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 perfects the bail conditions.
However, three days after the bail was granted, the defendant was still unable to get sureties with properties in Abuja with a Certificate of Occupancy to stand for him, prompting his return to the custody of FCID.
Abdulrahman and four others are being prosecuted by the Inspector-General (IGP) on allegations bordering on cyberbullying Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
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, and 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, who is the 1st defendant, was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his TikTok handle with the 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 Umar Umar under false pretence that the money would be used to settle those planning to protest against him.
The matter has been adjourned to December 9 for further mention.
