The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly taken its long-running dispute with Kano-based blogger Maryam Shehu to court, amid controversy over her detention and allegations involving officials of the anti-graft agency.
The development could mark a dramatic new turn in a case that has already triggered questions over the blogger’s prolonged detention.
Blogger Maryam Shehu has reportedly been in EFCC custody in Abuja for more than 30 days after she was arrested in Kano. Her detention became public after human-rights lawyer Abba Hikima raised the alarm and demanded that the commission either charge her before a competent court or release her.
Hikima alleged that Shehu was not being held over conventional economic crimes such as fraud, stealing or money laundering.
He also claimed that the blogger had raised allegations of corruption against some EFCC officials, creating a situation in which the commission was allegedly both the subject of the complaint and the agency handling the investigation.
The lawyer further alleged that Shehu was lured by an EFCC official under the guise of a business proposal before she was arrested in Kano and transported to Abuja.
He has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her arrest, while insisting that prolonged detention should not be used as punishment.
The controversy has now taken a fresh turn with reports that the matter has been brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who has handled several high-profile cybercrime-related cases, including the trial of social media commentator Justice Crack, presides over the court.
The legal battle comes against the backdrop of growing controversy over the use of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws in cases involving social media publications.
Under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024, Section 24 was amended to narrow the scope of the offence. The provision now targets, among other things, knowingly false messages sent for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order or posing a threat to life, as well as certain communications involving bullying, threats or harassment.
The amendment followed years of criticism of the former provision, which human-rights advocates argued was too broad and could be used against journalists, activists and other Nigerians over online comments.
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