Describes it as “Laughable Charges”.
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The State Security Services, SSS, has filed cybercrime charges against a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Shendam Branch, Plateau State, Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, over an alleged malicious publication on a local community WhatsApp platform.The development was brought to public attention by human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who, in a post on X, criticised the charge as “laughable” and alleged that the prosecution was initiated “at the instigation of a senior judge in Abuja.”
Odinkalu wrote that the SSS had initiated charges against the former NBA Shendam chairman, accusing him of cybercrimes “against a community,” while also querying the decision to prosecute the matter in Abuja.
The charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, is between the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen as defendant.
The matter is marked Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/317/2026.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that Tsenyen, alongside other persons still at large, sometime on or about May 15, 2026, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, conspired to send out a malicious publication through the Ngootuguut local community WhatsApp platform.
The SSS alleged that the publication claimed that the entire Ngootuguut community was involved in a plot to eliminate a person identified in the charge as “you.”
The prosecution claimed that the defendant knew the content of the publication to be false but allegedly circulated it for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will and needless anxiety in the Ngootuguut community.
In Count One, the prosecution alleged conspiracy, contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
In Count Two, the defendant was accused of attempting to send out the alleged malicious publication through the same WhatsApp platform, contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, as amended, and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Act.
In Count Three, the prosecution alleged that Tsenyen sent out a malicious publication through the Ngootuguut local community WhatsApp platform, knowing the content to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, as amended.
Another count in the charge also accused the defendant of making a similar malicious publication on or about May 15, 2026, through the same community WhatsApp platform.
A case summary attached to the charge states that the defendant is standing trial for allegedly sending out, via the Ngootuguut local community WhatsApp platform, a malicious publication alleging that the entire Ngootuguut community was involved in a plot to eliminate someone.
The prosecution maintained that the alleged publication was false and was allegedly sent out to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will and needless anxiety in the community.
The list of witnesses attached to the charge names a DSS investigating officer as a prosecution witness.
The prosecution also gave notice that it may call any other witness or witnesses it considers necessary in proof of its case.
The charge was signed by M. E. Ernest, Esq., O. M. Owan, Esq., U. M. Bulla, Esq., C. S. Eze, PhD, and E. G. Orubor, Esq., listed as counsel to the prosecution from the State Security Services, No. 1 Maitama Avenue, Aso Drive, Abuja.
However, the charge documents sighted did not expressly identify the alleged senior judge referenced in Odinkalu’s post, nor did they contain details showing the basis of that allegation.
As of the time of this report, it was not immediately clear whether the defendant had been arraigned or whether he had entered a plea to the charge.
The allegations against him remain accusations until determined by the court.
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