A trial began in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations that an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers defamed Senator Shehu Umar online. The first prosecution witness, SP Michael Kalu, a police investigator with the National Cybercrime Centre, outlined how the defendants were tracked following a complaint by the senator.
Senator Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, had alleged that the defendants accused him of sponsoring bandits, providing them with motorcycles, and orchestrating the disappearance of his aide. The claims, he said, were spread via social media.
Kalu testified that the police identified Ahmed Abdulrahman, the first defendant and a lawyer, as the owner of the Tiktok handle ‘Kibanna Channel’ and a linked YouTube account. He further explained that the remaining four defendants were traced using their online activity, and that the posts had harmed the senator’s reputation.
After cross-examination by defence counsel, including Abdul Mohammed SAN and Hamza Danttani, Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia adjourned the trial to 9–11 February.
The case, originally prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police, was taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, in December 2025. The defendants face 11 counts, including cyberstalking, defamation, and advance fee fraud. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail ranging from N1 million to N50 million, with specified federal government officers as sureties.
