The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has withdrawn its cybercrime suit filed against Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student at Bayero University Kano, and Abubakar Abdulhamad.
EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, ordered the withdrawal of the suits hours after the commission was called out by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.
NPO Reported that Sowore had on Thursday called out the EFCC over arraignment and continued detention of Maryam and Abubakar.
Sowore disclosed that the BUK student and the other defendant have been detained by the EFCC for 30 days before their arraignment.
Meanwhile, the activist noted that Maryam’s case is disturbing as the student is due to begin her final examinations this week.
The activist questioned the EFCC over the prolonged detention of Maryam and her remand despite being aware of her examination.
Reacting in a statement issued on its official X handle on Friday, the EFCC announced decision to withdraw the suits under the instruction of Olukoyede.
The commission however claimed to have taken the decision following pleas from pleas and apologies of Maryam’sfather and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians for leniency.
‘The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has compassionately ordered the withdrawal of charges preferred against Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, who were, on Thursday August 20, 2026 arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja , for alleged cybercrime and peddling malicious information against the Commission.
‘While the Commission considered the arraignment of the two defendants for cyber stalking to be contrary to Section 24(2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended) 2024 and punishable under Section 24 (2) (c) (ii) of the same Act, the Executive Chairman, nonetheless, considered the passionate pleas and apologies of Shehu’s father and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians for leniency.’ The statement partly read.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that Olukoyede has directed that charges filed against the two young Nigerians be dropped and warned that the EFCC would no longer tolerate any wilful attack on its image in any form, medium or platform.
The EFCC’s boss assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to function in line with its assigned mandate and in the best interests of the nation.
