Save 20% off! Join our newsletter and get 20% off right away!
Sign Up

EFCC Chairman Orders Withdrawal of Charges Against BUK Student, Other

Posted by Trendnewsmedia team August 21, 2026


  • EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede ordered the withdrawal of charges against Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad after they were arraigned on August 20, 2026
  • The two young Nigerians were charged with cybercrime and spreading malicious information against the commission before a Federal High Court in Abuja
  • The EFCC boss cited passionate pleas from Shehu’s father and appeals from Nigerians, but issued a firm warning against future attacks on the commission’s image

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has ordered the withdrawal of charges against two young Nigerians who were brought before a federal court in Abuja on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

The two defendants, Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on allegations of cybercrime and spreading damaging information about the commission.

Maryam Isah Shehu faces a cybercrime charge over an Instagram post concerning EFCC officials
BUK final-year student Maryam Isah Shehu appears before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Photo: EFCC
Source: Instagram

The charges bordered on cyber stalking, which the EFCC said contravened Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and was punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same law.

Read also

BUK final-year student arraigned over Instagram post about EFCC

Why the EFCC Dropped the Charges

Despite the legal basis for the prosecution, Olukoyede chose to drop the case after taking into account an emotional appeal made by Shehu’s father and calls from members of the public urging the commission to show mercy to the defendants.

The EFCC boss directed that all charges against the two individuals be formally dropped. He also used the occasion to put Nigerians on notice that the commission will no longer accept deliberate attempts to damage its reputation, regardless of the medium or platform used.

Olukoyede reassured the public that the EFCC remains committed to carrying out its mandate in the best interest of Nigeria.

Adeleke withdraws EFCC case

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke had ordered the state’s attorney-general to pull back a lawsuit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the state government’s bank account, saying President Bola Tinubu’s direct intervention prompted the decision.

Adeleke made the announcement during an interview with Channels Television, hours after he was declared winner of the August 15 governorship election.

Source: Legit.ng





Source link