A final-year student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Maryam Isah Shehu, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged social media post the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said was intended to damage its reputation.
Shehu was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
According to the EFCC, Shehu allegedly used her Instagram account, @maryam_shehu, on June 21, 2026, to publish allegations concerning an alleged assault of one Ahmed Uthman by EFCC officials.
The commission further alleged that the post claimed the officials acted on the instruction of a zonal director who had allegedly received N20 million from one Usman Iya Abbas.
The EFCC said the publication was intended to tarnish the reputation of the commission.
Shehu was charged under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
At Thursday’s proceedings, her lawyer, Barrister Chiemela Ozioma Amalaha, sought to have the student admitted to bail, arguing that she had already spent nearly 30 days in custody before being brought before the court.
Amalaha told the court that the defence received the amended charge on Thursday morning and subsequently filed and served a bail application on the prosecution.
The prosecution, however, opposed the request for an immediate hearing, arguing that it had not been given sufficient time to study the application.
Justice Abdulmalik consequently adjourned the matter until August 31, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.
The court ordered that Shehu remain in custody at the Suleja Custodial Centre pending further proceedings.
During the hearing, her lawyer also informed the court that the defendant had an examination scheduled for Saturday.
He urged the court to take into consideration the period she had already spent in detention and the academic implications of her continued custody.
The amended charge, dated August 20, alleges that Shehu intentionally transmitted a message through a social networking service which the EFCC considers capable of damaging its reputation.
The case was mentioned at Court 7 of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Shehu will remain in custody until the court considers her bail application on August 31.
