Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of charges against Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, who were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, August 20, 2026, over alleged cybercrime and peddling malicious information against the Commission. The decision, announced on Friday, August 21, 2026, came less than 24 hours after the two defendants were remanded in correctional centres, following what the EFCC described as passionate pleas from Shehu's father and appeals from well-meaning Nigerians for leniency. The Commission had arraigned Shehu on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime and wilful character assassination of the EFCC via her Instagram handle, while Abdulhamad faced a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime and criminal fabrication of the identity of the EFCC.
The charges against Shehu stemmed from a post she allegedly made on June 21, 2026, through her Instagram account, @maryamshehu, in which she claimed that EFCC officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman under the instruction of a Zonal Director who allegedly collected N20 million from one Usman Iya Abbas. Abdulhamad was accused of publishing a fabricated image on his X account, @shuraimi, sometime in May 2026, designed to resemble an official EFCC arrest placard, depicting one Sadeeq Kabeer as a suspect arrested for selling laptops at affordable prices to students. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Justice Abdulmalik had ordered Shehu remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre and Abdulhamad at Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourning the matter to August 31, 2026, for hearing of their bail applications.
The EFCC's decision to withdraw the charges marks a significant reversal from its earlier position. In a statement announcing the withdrawal, the Commission said that while it considered the arraignment of the two defendants for cyberstalking to be contrary to Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended) 2024, the Executive Chairman nonetheless considered the passionate pleas and apologies of Shehu's father and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians for leniency. "To this end, he has directed that charges filed against the two young Nigerians be dropped," the statement read. However, the EFCC's boss warned that the Commission would no longer tolerate any wilful attack on its image in any form, medium or platform, and assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to function in line with its assigned mandate and in the best interests of the nation.
The withdrawal comes amid intense public pressure and criticism of the EFCC's actions, particularly regarding Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University Kano who was due to begin her final examinations on Saturday, August 22, 2026, just two days after her arraignment. Human rights activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who witnessed the arraignment, had condemned the EFCC's actions, questioning how the Commission could detain a student for nearly a month and seek to keep her behind bars while her final examinations were about to begin. The arrest of the two defendants had also sparked a wider debate about the EFCC's use of the Cybercrimes Act to prosecute individuals for allegedly damaging its reputation, with critics arguing that the Commission was overstepping its mandate and suppressing freedom of expression.
The decision to withdraw the charges is a victory for civil society and a testament to the power of public pressure in holding government institutions accountable. However, the EFCC's warning that it would no longer tolerate any wilful attack on its image raises concerns about the Commission's continued use of the Cybercrimes Act to silence critics. The withdrawal of the charges, while welcome, does not address the underlying issue of the EFCC's interpretation and application of the Cybercrimes Act, which critics argue is being weaponised to suppress dissent and criminalise criticism of government institutions. The EFCC must now demonstrate that it is committed to protecting the rights of citizens and using its powers responsibly.
For Shehu and Abdulhamad, the withdrawal of the charges is a relief, but the trauma of their ordeal will not easily fade. Shehu, who was due to sit for her final examinations, now has an opportunity to focus on her studies without the burden of a criminal trial. Abdulhamad, who was also remanded in custody, can now return to his family and resume his life. However, the case has already taken a toll on both defendants and their families, and the scars of the experience will likely remain for a long time. The EFCC's decision to withdraw the charges is a step in the right direction, but it is also a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of vigilance in defending the rights of citizens against abuses by state institutions.
The EFCC's statement that it would continue to function in line with its assigned mandate and in the best interests of the nation is a positive assurance. However, the Commission must now follow through on this commitment by refocusing its efforts on its core mandate of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes, rather than pursuing citizens for social media posts. The withdrawal of the charges against Shehu and Abdulhamad should serve as a lesson to the EFCC and other government agencies that the public will not tolerate abuses of power, and that the rights of citizens must be respected at all times. For now, the two young Nigerians can breathe a sigh of relief, but the broader battle for the protection of freedom of expression in Nigeria continues.
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