By Uzair Adam
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in prison custody following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged cyberbullying offence.
Shehu, who is also identified as a Kano-based blogger, was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended charge dated August 20, 2026.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Shehu, on or about June 21, 2026, intentionally published a message on her Instagram account, @maryam_shehu, which the Commission said was aimed at damaging its reputation.
The EFCC alleged that the publication claimed that its officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly received N20 million from one Usman Iya Abbas.
The Commission said the alleged publication amounted to an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and is punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the amended law.
The amended charge was signed by Elizabeth Alabi of the EFCC’s Legal and Prosecution Department.
The case followed allegations raised by Shehu regarding the conduct of some EFCC officials.
According to human rights lawyer Abba Hikima, Shehu was arrested in Kano and subsequently taken to Abuja after making allegations of corruption against officials of the Commission.
Hikima said Shehu was not arrested over allegations of stealing, fraud or money laundering, but in connection with a publication she made concerning the EFCC and its officials.
He further alleged that she had spent more than 30 days in EFCC custody before being brought before the court.
An account of Thursday’s proceedings indicated that Shehu had already spent close to 30 days in detention before her arraignment.
Following the proceedings, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. She is to remain in custody until August 31, 2026.
