The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn cybercrime charges against Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano.
The commission also dropped charges against another Nigerian, Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad.
The two defendants faced separate charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and malicious information against the EFCC.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede directed the withdrawal of the charges on Friday.
According to the commission, the decision followed appeals from Shehu’s father and other Nigerians.
The commission said the family also offered an apology while seeking leniency for the two defendants.
The EFCC had accused Shehu of publishing a social media post on June 21, 2026.
The post allegedly claimed that EFCC officials assaulted a man identified as Ahmed Uthman.
It also alleged that a zonal director collected N20 million from another person.
The EFCC said the publication could damage its reputation.
As a result, the commission charged Shehu under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.
Shehu and Abdulhamad pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The defendants appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, the EFCC later reconsidered the case after receiving appeals for leniency.
The commission subsequently directed its prosecutors to withdraw the charges.
Despite dropping the case, the EFCC warned against attacks on its reputation.
The commission said it would not tolerate deliberate attacks through social media or other platforms.
Olukoyede also assured Nigerians that the EFCC would continue to carry out its duties in the interest of the country.
The development brings an end to the immediate legal action against the BUK student and Abdulhamad.
