ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken legal action against two individuals, Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants face charges related to cybercrime, wilful character assassination, and publishing false information targeted at the anti-graft agency.
According to the court proceedings on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Shehu was arraigned on an amended one-count charge focusing on malicious publications shared through her social media account.
The prosecution alleged that on June 21, 2026, Shehu used her Instagram handle (@maryamshehu) to post false claims asserting that EFCC officials assaulted a citizen, Ahmed Uthman, on the orders of a Zonal Director who had allegedly accepted a ₦20 million bribe from one Usman Iya Abbas.
The alleged act is contrary to and punishable under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).
In a related charge, Abdulhamad was arraigned for allegedly fabricating the commission’s official visual identity.
The court heard that in May 2026, Abdulhamad posted a manipulated image via his X (formerly Twitter) handle (@shuraimi) designed to mirror an official EFCC arrest placard.
The graphic featured an individual named Sadeeq Kabeer as an arrested suspect alongside a caption claiming his “only crime was selling laptops at affordable price to student.”
Both defendants entered a plea of “not guilty” to their respective charges.
Following the pleas, prosecution counsel Elizabeth Alabi requested a trial date and prayed that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
Defending Shehu, counsel C.O. Amalaha informed the court of a pending bail application, urging the judge to grant bail on liberal terms.
Similarly, counsel to Abdulhamad, Adamu K. Adamu, noted his client’s bail application and requested temporary remand in EFCC custody.
Justice Abdulmalik directed that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre and Abdulhamad at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned to August 31, 2026, for the hearing of the bail applications and the commencement of trial.
