Court remands man over alleged threat to release private photos and videos of Governor Yusuf

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of one Sanusi Dankaka at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he threatened to release private videos and photographs of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Facebook.

Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the order after Dankaka was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on two counts of alleged cybercrime.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/699/2026, was filed on October 22 by the DSS through its counsel, Yusuf Afegbua.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed in October 2026 in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In the first count, Dankaka and other persons said to be at large were accused of attempting to circulate malicious content through a Facebook account identified as Sanusi Dankaka Yahaya.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant claimed to possess nude videos and photographs of Governor Yusuf and threatened to make them public.

It further alleged that the publication was false and was intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury to the governor.

The DSS said the alleged conduct contravened Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, and was punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law.

When the case was called on Monday, Afegbua told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the arraignment.

Counsel to the defendant, Kauna Penzin, also confirmed her readiness for the proceedings.

After the charges were read to him, Dankaka denied the allegations.

Afegbua subsequently requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant to the custody of the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

Justice Ibrahim granted the request and adjourned the case until December 7 for trial.

Dankaka was consequently ordered to remain in custody pending the next hearing.