Cyberbullying Trial: How Police Tracked Lawyer, Influencers Over “Banditry” Slurs Against Senator Buba
A Superintendent of Police attached to the National Cybercrime Centre (NCC), Michael Kalu, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how digital forensics and coordinated tracking led to the arrest of an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers over alleged defamatory content targeting Senator Shehu Umar Buba.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Kalu outlined the investigative steps that uncovered the online trail connecting the suspects to a series of viral posts. Senator Buba represents Bauchi South Senatorial District and chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry.
Led in evidence by Abueh Leyii from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the witness said the investigation was triggered by a formal petition from the senator alleging criminal conspiracy and cyberstalking. According to Kalu, the petition centered on online videos and posts accusing the lawmaker of sponsoring banditry and being involved in the disappearance of one of his aides.
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Kalu told the court that the NCC profiled the social media accounts used to circulate the allegations, including a TikTok handle known as “Kibanna Channel” and a related YouTube channel. Working with telecommunications providers and other government agencies, investigators traced a phone number linked to the accounts, which led to the first defendant, Ahmed Abdulrahman, a legal practitioner.
He said Abdulrahman was located in Kano State and later reported to the police, where he acknowledged ownership of the phone number and associated social media handles. The other defendants—Daure David, Ishaq Muhammed, Abdulrashid Musa and Nasir Abubakar—were subsequently identified and arrested through similar digital tracking methods.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, including Abdul Mohammed, SAN, Kalu maintained that the posts were widely circulated and capable of causing serious reputational harm, as well as posing a risk to public order.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, was initially instituted by the Inspector General of Police before being taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in December 2025.
The defendants are facing an 11-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024. The prosecution alleges that the statements were false and intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and instill fear in the complainant.
The court had earlier granted Abdulrahman bail in the sum of N50 million, while the co-defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million each, with sureties required to be Grade Level 12 officers in the Federal Civil Service.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the matter to February 9, 10 and 11, 2026, for continuation of trial.
