The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has formally taken over the prosecution of an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers accused of cyberbullying Senator Umar Shehu Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The takeover, announced on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, shifts control of the case from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
At the proceedings before Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia, counsel Nueebu Leyii Abueh informed the court of the AGF’s decision to assume full responsibility for the trial. Abueh told the judge that the ministry would henceforth handle all aspects of the prosecution.
Stringent Bail Conditions Imposed
The development came as Justice Offili-Ajumogobia delivered three separate rulings on bail applications filed by the five defendants. Each defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦1 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court imposed tight conditions: the surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer in the federal civil service, or, alternatively, a reputable individual who owns landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The property must possess a valid Certificate of Occupancy, and the original document is to be deposited with the court registrar.
Sureties are also required to swear to an affidavit of means and submit two passport photographs. The judge ordered that any failure to fulfil the conditions would lead to automatic revocation of the bail. Until the requirements are met, the defendants will remain in custody.
The defendants—lawyer Ahmed Abdulrahman, 41; Daure David, 35; Ishaq Mohammed, 25; Abdulrashid Musa, 30; and Nasir Abubakar, 21—were initially arraigned by the IGP on October 30 on an 11-count charge including cyberstalking, defamation, cybercrime, and attempted advance fee fraud.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, the group allegedly conspired in 2025 to carry out cyberstalking against Senator Buba. Abdulrahman was specifically accused of circulating a video on TikTok and YouTube linking the senator to the sponsorship of banditry—an allegation prosecutors say was knowingly false and intended to incite fear and disrupt public order.
Another defendant, Daure David, is alleged to have attempted to extort ₦5 million from the senator under the false pretext of preventing planned protests against him.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty and were previously remanded in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
With the AGF now steering the case, the trial is expected to proceed under closer federal oversight. The matter has been adjourned to January 26, 2026, for continuation of trial.
