A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano, Maryam Isah Shehu, in custody following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged cyberbullying offence.
Shehu, a Kano-based blogger, was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Thursday on an amended one-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC alleged that Shehu, on June 21, 2026, deliberately published a message on her Instagram account, @maryam_shehu, which was intended to damage the reputation of the commission.
According to the charge, the publication alleged that EFCC officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly received N20m from one Usman Iya Abbas.
The commission said the publication constituted an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The provision, according to the EFCC, is punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the amended law.
Following the proceedings, the court ordered that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings and adjourned the matter until August 31.
The development has drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding the student’s arrest and detention.
Human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, who is part of Shehu’s legal team, said the BUK student was arrested in Kano and taken to Abuja after making allegations concerning the conduct of some EFCC officials.
Hikima said Shehu was not arrested over allegations of stealing, fraud or money laundering but over the publication concerning the commission and its officials.
He further disclosed that Shehu had spent about 35 days in EFCC custody before she was brought before the court.
According to him, the defendant was served with the original one-count charge on Wednesday evening before an amended charge was filed and served on Thursday.
The lawyer said the defence had filed a bail application as well as a suit seeking enforcement of Shehu’s fundamental rights.
Shehu was represented in court by Chinala Amalaha, who held the brief of Hikima.
The case is expected to come up again on August 31 for further proceedings, including consideration of the defendant’s bail application.
The allegations against Shehu have not been determined by the court, and she remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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