By Taiye Agbaje
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of an Abuja-
based lawyer and four social media influencers accused of cyberbullying Sen.
Shehu Umar until Tuesday for continuation of trial.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia adjourned the matter following an oral application
by Abueh Leyii, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), to
allow them prepare the evidence against the defendants after the takeover of the
case.
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 (I-G) of
Police.
Upon resumed hearing on Monday, Leyii, who is a Chief State Counsel, informed
the court that the AGF, having taken over the matter, conducted a review of the
case.
She said after the review of the matter, there were some issues in the charge that
needed to be looked into.
She who added that a letter had been written to the police, said the police
authorities were yet to furnish her office with the information. “We have written to
the police and we are waiting for their response,” she said.
Leyii, therefore, sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution get response
from the police for proper prosecution of the defendants.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 for continuation of
trial after the defence lawyers did not oppose the application.
Abdulrahman (1st defendant) and his co-defendants were initially being prosecuted
by the I-G for allegedly cyberbullying Sen. Umar, Chairman, Senate Committee on
National Security and Intelligence.
The I-G, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony
Egwu on Oct. 6, 2025, named Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa
and Nasir Abubakar as 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.
The defendants were, on Oct. 30, 2025, arraigned on 11-count charge which also
bordered on alleged cybercrime, defamation, advance fee fraud, among others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and their counsel filed applications
for their bail.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia had, on Nov. 24, 2025, admitted Adbulrahman to a N50
million bail with two sureties in the like sum.
Also in three separate rulings on bail applications for the co-defendants, the judge
admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in the like
sum.
The sureties, the judge said must be a grade level 12 officer in the employment of
the Federal Government, in the alternative to being government employees, the
sureties must be persons of standing repute and must have landed property at the
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The property must have Certificate of Occupancy and the original document must
be deposited with the registrar of the court.
Besides, the sureties must swear to affidavit of means and deposit two passport
photograph each.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia ordered that inability of the defendants to meet the bail
conditions would automatically lead to revocation of the bail.
Pending the perfection of the bail, she ordered that they should remain in custody.
