Court remands man in Kuje prison over alleged defamation of Senator Shehu Buba Umar

Mr Ishaq Muhammed has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged cyberbullying of Senator Umar Buba.

The remand order was issued by the Federal High  Court sitting in Abuja, presided by Justice Rita Offili Ajumogobia.

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Senator Shehu Buba Umar, represents Bauchi South Senatorial District.

After the prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), requested the execution of a bench warrant earlier issued against Muhammed over his failure to appear for trial, the Judge granted the request and adjourned the case until November 24, 2026, for hearing of the prosecution’s application seeking the revocation of the bail granted to another defendant, Ahmed Abdulrahman, an Abuja-based lawyer.

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The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi is prosecuting Abdulrahman, Muhammed and three others in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025 over allegations bordering on cybercrime, defamation and other offences against Senator Umar, who is also the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Bauchi State for the 2027 election.

The other defendants are Daure David, Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, informed the court that Abdulrahman and David were absent.

Kaswe said the prosecution received a letter informing it that Abdulrahman was indisposed and receiving medical attention at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, while another letter indicated that David was recovering from injuries sustained in an accident.

However, the prosecution questioned the timing of Abdulrahman’s medical report, describing it as an attempt to frustrate its pending application for the revocation of his bail.

Kaswe argued that Abdulrahman was aware of the scheduled proceedings and the prosecution’s intention to seek the revocation of his bail but only presented the medical report on the day of the hearing.

He further alleged that the lawyer had continued to publish defamatory messages and videos against Senator Umar despite the court proceedings and the conditions attached to his bail.

The prosecution consequently urged the court to revoke Abdulrahman’s bail, alleging that he had continued to commit the offences for which he was standing trial.

Responding, the counsel to Abdulrahman, V. Damgdem, described his client’s absence as a medical emergency, insisting that he was receiving treatment at the teaching hospital.

He maintained that the defence was still within the time allowed by law to respond to the prosecution’s application for bail revocation.

On his part, counsel to David, Vincent Owhor, told the court that his client was involved in an accident in Bauchi State on October 15 and had since been receiving medical attention.

Owhor urged the court to admit the medical report, arguing that the Evidence Act did not restrict the admissibility of medical reports to government hospitals, provided they were issued by qualified medical personnel.

He cited Section 41(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011, in support of his submission, adding that his client had consistently attended previous court proceedings and that his absence was not deliberate.

Meanwhile, the counsel to Muhammed, R.A. Bamigboye, urged the court to suspend the execution of the bench warrant issued against his client on September 29.

Bamigboye explained that although the warrant was issued following his client’s absence, Muhammed had appeared in court on Tuesday and had also attended the previous adjourned date, despite arriving late.

He said the defence had filed a motion seeking to set aside the bench warrant and urged the judge to allow the application to be heard before taking further action against his client.

The lawyer consequently opposed the prosecution’s request to remand Muhammed pending the determination of the motion.

However, Justice Offili-Ajumogobia granted the prosecution’s application and ordered Muhammed’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion seeking to set aside the bench warrant.

The judge subsequently fixed November 24 for hearing of the prosecution’s application to revoke Abdulrahman’s bail, Muhammed’s motion to vacate the bench warrant and continuation of the trial.

The case originated from an 11-count charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police against the defendants on October 6, 2025.

The police accused them of conspiracy, cybercrime, defamation and advance fee fraud, among other offences.

They were arraigned on October 30, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the charges before being remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

They were subsequently admitted to bail.

In one of the counts, the defendants were accused of conspiring in 2025 to commit cyberstalking against Senator Umar, contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 21(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

In another count, Abdulrahman was specifically accused of using his TikTok account, identified as ‘Kibanna Channel’, and YouTube channel to publish a video allegedly linking Senator Umar to the sponsorship of banditry.

The prosecution alleged that the publication was made through computer systems and networks, with knowledge that the information was false, and with the intention of damaging the senator’s reputation and causing fear.

The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Attorney-General of the Federation took over the prosecution of the case from the Inspector-General of Police in December 2025.
Clarify the remand and bail timeline.

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