The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has ordered the withdrawal of charges against Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, who were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and malicious information against the Commission.
The two defendants were arraigned on Friday, August 21, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The EFCC had accused them of cyberstalking, an offence the Commission said contravened Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same law.
However, Olukoyede directed the withdrawal of the charges following passionate pleas and apologies from Shehu’s father, as well as appeals from well-meaning Nigerians seeking leniency for the two young Nigerians.
In a statement on Thursday, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the Commission’s decision was made after the EFCC chairman considered the appeals.
“While the Commission 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 in 2024), the Executive Chairman, nonetheless, considered the passionate pleas and apologies of Shehu’s father and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians for leniency,” Oyewale said.
He said Olukoyede had consequently directed that the charges against the two defendants be dropped.
The EFCC chairman, however, warned that the Commission would no longer tolerate what it described as wilful attacks on its image through any medium or platform.
He assured Nigerians that the anti-graft agency would continue to discharge its mandate in line with the law and in the best interests of the nation.
(The Sun)