The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has withdrawn cybercrime charges against a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano, Maryam Isah Shehu, and another Nigerian, Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad.
The two defendants were arraigned separately before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday over allegations of cybercrime and publishing malicious information about the commission.
The EFCC had accused Shehu of publishing a social media post on June 21 alleging that its officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly collected N20m from one Usman Abbas.
The commission said the publication was intended to damage its reputation and contravened Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Abdulhamad was similarly charged under the provision over a separate allegation.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
However, in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had ordered the withdrawal of the charges following appeals for leniency and an apology from Shehu’s father, as well as pleas from well-meaning Nigerians.
The commission said although it considered the alleged cyberstalking contrary to the Cybercrimes Act, Olukoyede was moved by the appeals and apologies presented on behalf of the defendants.
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The EFCC said the chairman had also warned that the commission would not tolerate wilful attacks on its image through any medium.
It added that the commission would continue to discharge its mandate in the best interests of the country.
