Trial of lawyer, others who accused Senator of sponsoring banditry adjourned

By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the trial of an Abuja-based lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and his co-defendants for accusing Senator Shehu Buba Umar a sponsor of banditry in a TikTok video until June 2.

The matter, which was on number 11 on the cause list before Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia, was adjourned after the judge took some cases, including judgments and rulings.

Abdulrahman (1st defendant) and his co-defendants were initially being prosecuted by the I-G.

The I-G, in the 11-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 and filed by Anthony Egwu on Oct. 6, 2025, named David Daure, 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 they were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre before they were admitted to bail.

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 was alleged to have, sometime in 2025, intentionally sent a video via his Tiktok handle with 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 “Sen. Buba, 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, among others.

However, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), in December 2025, took over the case.

Rabiu-Rangers Abdullahi, a 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), on Feb. 9, testified that David Daure, one of the defendants, attempted to use former Minister of Foreign Affairs’ name, Yusuf Tuggar, to defraud Sen. Umar.

The witness stated this while being led in evidence-in-chief by Leyii Abueh, counsel for the AGF.

(NAN)