AGF Petitions Stall Ex-NBA Chairman Tsenyen’s Cyberstalking Trial Again

The trial of Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Shendam Branch, stalled once more on Monday on the Federal High Court in Abuja after the prosecution informed the court docket it was not able to open its case due to petitions earlier than the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

At the resumed listening to earlier than Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, prosecution counsel, Mrs Oladunjoye, who appeared for the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, knowledgeable the court docket that the prosecution couldn’t proceed as scheduled.

She mentioned the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had obtained petitions and urged the court docket to adjourn the matter pending the AGF’s resolution.

However, the prosecution didn’t disclose who filed the petitions or their contents.

The defence staff, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Emeka Etiaba, alongside SAN Obinna Anjokwu and 5 different legal professionals, didn’t oppose the request for an adjournment.

The court docket subsequently adjourned the case till February 4, 2027, additional delaying the trial over allegations linked to a land dispute involving the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.

The subsequent listening to is scheduled for 2 days earlier than the February 6, 2027 state-level elections, pushing the proceedings additional into the 2027 election interval.

The case stems from a four-count cost filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) towards Tsenyen, accusing him of conspiracy, tried transmission of false info, cyberstalking and conduct allegedly able to inflicting a breach of public peace.

The costs, filed below the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and many others.) Act and the Penal Code, arose from messages Tsenyen allegedly posted on the Ngootuguut group WhatsApp platform regarding a dispute over ancestral household land.

According to court docket paperwork, the DSS accused him of circulating messages claiming that sure people have been plotting to eradicate him. The company alleged that the publications have been able to inflicting legal intimidation, hatred, ailing will and public nervousness.

The prosecution is registered as Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/317/2026.

However, the land possession dispute on the centre of the controversy is already earlier than the Plateau State High Court sitting in Shendam.

In Suit No. PLD/59/2025, Tsenyen is in search of a judicial willpower of possession of his household’s ancestral land in Ngotugu’ut village, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The defendants within the civil case embody Tanko Danjuma, Dan-Azumi Danjuma, Miskoom Niemu’ut Mensem and the Incorporated Trustees of William Mensem Memorial Foundation School.

The prosecution has attracted criticism from human rights lawyer and Professor of Law, Chidi Odinkalu, who questioned the choice to pursue legal costs arising from social media posts a couple of dispute already earlier than a civil court docket.

Odinkalu had additionally mentioned Tsenyen petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over allegations referring to the disputed land, however the council reportedly declined to research, describing the matter as civil and one to be resolved by way of the courts.

He criticised the DSS for devoting sources to the prosecution whereas Plateau State continues to face lethal assaults and insecurity.

According to Odinkalu, the case raises issues about using state safety establishments in disputes that may very well be addressed by way of atypical judicial proceedings.