ABUJA — A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a suspect, Sanusi Dankaka, in the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations of attempting to blackmail and publish explicit media depicting Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the remand order on Monday following Dankaka’s arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges bordering on cybercrime, criminal intimidation, and public harassment.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant, alongside accomplices who remain at large, utilized a Facebook account registered under the name Sanusi Dankaka Yahaya to issue threats of releasing nude videos and images of the governor. According to court documents, the alleged criminal acts occurred in October 2026 within the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The DSS asserted that the claims were completely unfounded and orchestrated intentionally to cause public embarrassment, injury, annoyance, and defamation to the person of Governor Yusuf. The security agency noted that the conduct violates Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same statute.
During the court proceedings, prosecuting counsel Yusuf Afegbua informed the bench that the state was prepared to commence trial immediately after the charges were formally read. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts brought against him.
Following the non-guilty plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and prayed the court to remand Dankaka in prison custody pending trial. Defence counsel Kauna Penzin did not oppose the remand application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to December 7, 2026, for trial.
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