Niger Magistrate Court remands ‘social media man’ for labelling Governor Bago a liar, not keeping promises

The Police Authority of the Niger State Command, has arraigned Abubakar Isah Mokwa before a Minna Chief Magistrate Court 1 sitting in the High Court Complex headquarters for allegedly cyber bullying Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.

Popularly called ‘Senator’ Isah Mokwa was standing trial on six count charge which includes, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, inciting disturbance, criminal defamation of character, injurious falsehood and belonging to unlawful assembly by electronic and using of insulting or abusive language.

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The six count charge, according to the head of the legal unit of the Niger State Police Command, Mr. Emmanuel Ochayi ASP were punishable under section 24(1) b and c of Cyber crime (prohibition and prevention) Act 2024 and section 79,387 388 (1),409, and 394 of Niger State penal code law 2025.

According to the Police information Report marked MN/CMN/CR/52/2025 made available in court and obtained by this reporter, the executive chairman of Mokwa local government area of Niger State Jubrin Abdullahi Muregi reported to the office of the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman through a petition

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In the petition dated 19th October, 2025, , Abdullahi Muregi drew attention to a post on social media handle of the defendant, Abubakar Isah Mokwa, concerning the Niger Governor Mohammed Umar Bago over a defamatory, inciting, abusive and insultive statements trending via a social media posted “ by you Abubakar Isah Mokwa also known as ‘Senator Isah Mokwa’, a resident of IBBU Ndakitabu area of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State in the following manner:

“Dear Governor Amunike of Niger State. a serial liar and a comedian over the Mokwa flood victims, a graduate assistant via your Facebook social media account page, defaming, the character, and reputation of the governor.

“During Police investigation, it was revealed that you Abubakar Isah Mokwa posted the said defamatory publication with intent to incite members of the public against the governor and form unlawful assembly by electronic “National Governors Promise Keepers Committee” (NAGPKC), as members all with intent to bring down the Executive Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and Niger State Government’s good reputation in the eyes of reasonable members of the public without any justification”

When the six count charge were read to him, by the presiding Chief Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim Murtala, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His defence counsel Ibrahim Umar Wali made an oral application for his bail which was objected by the Police prosecutor, Emmanuel Ochayi on the ground that, one of the charges as contained in the First Information Report (FIR) is not ordinarily boilable.

He then prayed the court for the remand of the defendant pending the completion of the ongoing police investigation into the matter.

The Chief Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim Murtala then ordered for his remand at the Minna old correctional custody and adjourned the case to 17th of November, 2025 for the commencement of hearing.

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