The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a man, Ishaq Muhammed, in the trial of an Abuja-based lawyer, Ahmed Abdulrahman, and others for allegedly cyberbullying Sen. Shehu Umar.
Justice Rita Offili-Ajumogobia gave the order after David Kaswe, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), moved the application following Muhammed’s absence in court for the trial.
The AGF, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, is prosecuting Muhammed, Abdulrahman and three others on allegations bordering on defamation, cybercrime, among others.
While Abdulrahman is named as 1st defendant, Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar are listed as 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.
When the matter was called on Tuesday for continuation of trial, all the defendants were in court except Muhammed.
Besides, he had no legal representation.
Kaswe then told the court that the prosecution had an application.
The lawyer, an assistant director in the AGF’s office, said the application was for the revocation of the bail of the 1st and 3rd defendants (Abdulrahman and Muhammed).
Although Abdulrahman was in court, Kaswe argued that the 1st defendant, who is a lawyer, had violated the conditions of the bail he was granted.
He said the defendant had continued to commit the same offence with which he was standing trial before the court.
Kaswe said Abdulrahman continued to post defamatory messages and videos against the senator in disobedience to the court order.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia then asked Kaswe if he had any evidence to back the allegations.
“Because it is a serious offence,” the judge said.
The lawyer responded that he was in court with some of the video clips from the Tiktok account of the 1st defendant.
The judge, however, directed him to bring a formal application and accompany it with the claims of the additional defamatory publication.
Moving the application for the issuance of arrest warrant against Muhammed, the lawyer submitted that this was brought pursuant to Section 184 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He said that Muhammed had not been appearing in court for a number of time, citing July 7 proceeding.
He said no reason was adduced for his absent in court, including his lawyer.
“This section allows the court to revoke his bail my Lord. The purpose of bail is a social contract; for defendant to make himself available during trial and to have adequate time and facility to defend himself.
“The non-appearance of the 3rd defendant in court is out of abundance of disrespect to this honourable court and to stall the trial and frustrate the prosecution case,” he said.
Kaswe, therefore, applied that a bench warrant be issued against Muhammed.
The lawyer also said that the prosecution witness was in court and he was ready to proceed with the trial if the court allowed.
But the judge said the bench warrant had to be executed first before the prosecution could continue with the trial.
Justice Offili-Ajumogobia, who ordered the arrrest of Muhammed, adjourned the matter until Nov. 3 for continuation of trial.
Abdulrahman and his co-defendants were initially being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police.
The I-G, in the 11-count charge, filed by Anthony Egwu on Oct. 6, 2025, accused the defendants of alleged cybercrime, defamation, advance fee fraud, among others.
They were, on Oct. 30, 2025, before the judge.
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 AGF, in December 2025, took over the case.
