Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia has ordered {that a} lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and four others be remanded on the Pressure Legal Investigation Division (FCID) in Abuja till November 10.
They have been arraigned for allegedly cyberbullying Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who represents Bauchi South within the Senate.
The 5 defendants — Abdulrahman, Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa, and Nasiru Usman Abubakar — have been charged by the Inspector-Basic of Police (IGP) on 11 counts bordering on cyberbullying, fraud, and extortion. All of them pleaded not responsible earlier than Justice Ajumogobia.
Prosecution counsel, Victor Okoye, requested the courtroom to remand the defendants at Kuje Correctional Centre, however defence lawyer Affis Matanmi utilized for bail for his shopper, saying, “He’s a authorized practitioner of the Supreme Court and won’t intervene with police investigation or witnesses if granted bail.”
Nevertheless, Okoye objected, arguing that after being beforehand granted police bail, the lawyer allegedly dedicated two extra acts of cyberbullying.
“Though the primary defendant is a confirmed authorized practitioner, he doesn’t deserve particular therapy,” Okoye mentioned, stressing that the legislation makes no exception for attorneys concerned in legal acts.
After listening to each side, Justice Ajumogobia dominated that the defendants ought to stay in custody on the FCID till November 10. She additionally directed the defence to file extra affidavits in response to the prosecution’s counterclaims.
In a single of the costs, the police alleged that Abdulrahman, utilizing his TikTok account “Kibanna Channel” and a YouTube channel, posted a video accusing Senator Umar of sponsoring banditry.
The video allegedly said: “Senator Umar, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sponsor of banditry and needs to be investigated.”
The prosecution mentioned the assertion was false and geared toward damaging the senator’s status and instilling worry. .
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One other depend accused one of the co-defendants, Daure David, of attempting to extort ₦5m from the senator below the pretence that the cash can be used to cease deliberate protests in opposition to him.
The case was adjourned till November 10 for additional listening to.
