Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is facing a growing storm of outrage after it arraigned a 22-year-old female student of Bayero University Kano (BUK) before a federal high court in Abuja on allegations of "cyberbullying" the anti-graft agency. Maryam Isa Shehu, a final-year student of Islamic Studies who is due to begin her final examinations this Saturday, was remanded in Suleja Prison, while a co-defendant was sent to Kuje Prison, where they are both expected to remain until at least August 31, 2026. Their arrests and detention have ignited a fierce debate over whether the EFCC has crossed the line from fighting corruption to silencing its critics.
According to multiple reports, Shehu and her co-defendant spent nearly 30 days in detention before they were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. Despite being arraigned on allegations of cyberbullying—a charge that critics argue is being used to criminalize criticism of the commission's conduct—both defendants were denied bail and remanded in custody, effectively preventing Shehu from sitting for her final university examinations.
Sources close to the case told SaharaReporters that Shehu's arrest was tied to her online activities, including posts that questioned the EFCC's operations or motives. "She was picked up for allegedly cyberbullying the EFCC, but what exactly constitutes cyberbullying in this case? Is it questioning the agency's methods? Is it demanding accountability?" one source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Her family has expressed distress that a young woman at the threshold of her academic career could be detained for weeks over charges that, in their view, do not warrant such severe pre-trial incarceration.
Critics have accused the EFCC, under Chairman Ola Olukoyede, of engaging in a pattern of harassment and intimidation that runs counter to its mandate of fighting corruption. Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, who has previously represented defendants in similar cases, condemned the detention of Shehu, describing it as an abuse of state power and an attempt to chill free speech. "An anti-corruption agency should be fighting corruption, not turning itself into an institution for hunting down, detaining and prosecuting citizens over criticism or alleged cyberbullying," Adeyanju said in a statement. "What kind of institution detains a university student for nearly a month, arraigns her for allegedly cyberbullying the agency, and then seeks to keep her behind bars while her final examinations are about to begin?"
The EFCC has not issued a detailed public statement on the specific charges against Shehu or her co-defendant. However, the commission has previously warned that it would not tolerate attacks on its integrity or reputation. In recent months, the EFCC has pursued several high-profile cases involving individuals accused of defamation, cyberstalking, and spreading false information about its officials. Supporters of the agency argue that such actions are necessary to protect its officers from harassment and to maintain public confidence in its work. But critics counter that the EFCC's mandate is to tackle corruption, not to police online criticism of government institutions.
The case has also drawn attention to the broader use of Nigeria's Cybercrime Act, which critics say is increasingly being weaponized to silence dissent and to punish individuals for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression. The law, enacted to combat online fraud and other digital offenses, has been criticized by civil society organizations for its vague language and its potential to be used against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens. Shehu's case is seen by many as a prime example of this trend, raising uncomfortable questions about whether Nigeria is witnessing a growing crackdown on free speech under the guise of criminal enforcement.
Justice Abdulmalik has not yet ruled on bail applications, and the next hearing is scheduled for August 31, 2026. In the meantime, Shehu and her co-defendant remain in custody, their academic and personal lives in disarray. Her family and supporters are calling for her immediate release, arguing that the EFCC's actions are disproportionate and cruel. For now, the EFCC has made its position clear: it will not tolerate what it sees as attacks on its integrity. But the question that now hangs over this case is whether the commission has gone too far and whether the price of its vigilance will be the right of a young woman to complete her education and to speak her mind without fear of prison. As one observer put it, "In the eyes of the EFCC, you're guilty until exam is over. And that is not justice, that is tyranny."
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments