The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and publication of malicious information against the commission.
Shehu was arraigned yesterday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended one-count charge, while Abdulhamad faced a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime and alleged fabrication of the EFCC’s identity.
The EFCC alleged that Shehu, through her Instagram account, @maryamshehu, published a claim that its officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly collected N20 million from Usman Iya Abbas.
The commission said the publication was intended to tarnish its reputation and contravened Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Similarly, Abdulhamad was accused of posting on his X account, @shuraimi, an image allegedly fabricated to look like an official EFCC arrest placard.
The image reportedly depicted one Sadeeq Kabeer as an EFCC suspect with the inscription: “His only crime was selling laptops at affordable price to student.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
EFCC counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, subsequently requested a trial date and asked the court to remand Shehu in custody.
Shehu’s counsel, C.O. Amalaha, urged the court to grant her client bail on liberal terms, while Abdulhamad’s lawyer, Adamu K. Adamu, also informed the court of his bail application and asked that his client be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Shehu be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre, Niger State, while Abdulhamad was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The court adjourned the matter until August 31 for hearing of their bail applications and commencement of trial.
