Police arrest man over alleged cyberbullying, kidnap threats

A 19-year-old man, Aliyu Saidu, was on Thursday docked in a Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly sending offensive messages to a woman and threatening to kidnap her.

The police charged Saidu. who lives in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja with criminal intimidation, harassment, cyber stalking, cyberbullying and extortion.

The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, Charity Nwachukwu, told the court that the complainant, Miss Gladys Raza, of Brains and Hammer City Estate Karmo Abuja, reported the matter at the Karmo Police Station on June 8.

Nwachukwu said on June 6, the defendant sent grossly offensive messages to the complainant’s phone
She said the defendant told the complainant to send N2 million, one brand new Bajaj motorcycle, 16 bottles of Codeine, 20 packs of Tramadol and one carton of condom.

Nwachukwu said the defendant further threatened to kidnap the complainant and her children if she failed to comply with his requested,

The police said that the defendant’s action placed the complainant and her family in fear for their lives .
Nwachukwu said during police investigation the defendant made a confessional statement , admitting that the messages were sent from his phone.

The prosecutor informed the court that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 18, 4, 14 and 46 of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 and Section 24 and 58 of Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Musa Jobbo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.

Jobbo ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case until July 27 for hearing.

NAN