A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that a legal practitioner, Ahmed Abdulrahman and four others, be remanded at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10 Abuja till November 10 after their arraignment for allegedly cyber-bullying a serving Senator, Shehu Baba Umar.
Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia issued the order yesterday shortly after the five were arraigned on an eleven-count, bordering on cyber bullying, advance fee fraud and extortion, brought against them by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The other defendants are Daure David, Ishaq Abubakar Muhammed, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Musa and Nasiru Usman Abubakar.
The five were accused of blackmailing Senator Umar, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the prosecuting lawyer, Victor Okoye requested the court for a date the commencement of trial and asked that the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja.
Lawyer to Abulrahman, Afeez Matanmi subsequently moved the bail application he filed for his client, who he described as a lawyer, who will not interfere with police’s investigation and prosecution’s witnesses if granted bail.
He reminded the court that police, on their own, granted the first defendant administrative bail which he did not jump because, as a lawyer, he knows the consequences of jumping bail.
Okoye, however, objected to the bail request, staying that shortly after the lawyer was admitted to bail, he engaged in two other cyber-bullying activities and featured prominently in five out of the eleven counts contained in the charge sheet.
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Okoye argued that, although, the first defendant is confirmed to be a lawyer, he does not deserve any preferential or special treatment because there is no provision in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Constitution that confers any special treatment on any legal practitioner involved in criminality.
After taking arguments for and against the bail application, Justice Ajumogobia ordered that, the defendants be remanded at the Force CID till November 10 for the lawyer to the first defendant to file further affidavit and reply on point of law to the weighty allegations contained in the counter affidavit of the prosecution.
The Judge subsequently adjourned the matter till November 10.
The suspect was alleged to have stated that Senator Umar is a sponsor of banditry and called for his investigation.
David was accused of attempting to collect N5 million from Senator Umar under false pretense that the money will be used to settle those planning to protest against him.