Ex NBA Shendam branch Chairman remands in DSS custody

By Vivian Okejeme

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja, has ordered that the former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Shendam branch, Plateau State, Barrister Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen be remanded in the Department of the State Service (DSS) custody in Abuja.

The lawyer who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau state is to remain in DSS custody till August 20, when his new trial/arraignment on cyberstalking and incitement of public disturbances would be decided.

The order is following DSS application Friday, for his arraignment on two count charges of alleged cyberstalking and incitement.

The defence counsel Emmanuel Esene SAN raised objections against the arraignment that the his client had already been arraigned at the same Federal High Court in Abuja on the same allegations and that his trial has been fixed for September 28.

He expressed shock with the new arraignment bid and pleaded with the judge not to allow it so as to avoid double jeopardy for the lawyer.

Responding to the objection, counsel to the prosecution,
Muinat Oladunjoye, denied knowledge of any other similar charges against the lawyer.

At this juncture, for the records purposes, Justice Abdulmalik demanded for a copy of the earlier charge which was promptly tendered by Esene SAN.

Justice Abdulmalik also demanded for records of proceedings in respect of the earlier charge.

However, the defence couldn’t produce the record on the ground that the new charge came by surprise to them on August 13.

Therefore, Justice Abdulmalik,ordered that records of proceedings on the earlier trial be produced before the court on August 20.

Consequently, pending the production of the record of proceedings, the Judge ordered that the accused lawyer be on remand at the DSS detention facility.

The two new count charges against the lawyer are;

COUNT ONE; “That you, Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, adult, male, of Ngotuguut, Shendam, Plateau, sometime in May 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did send a malicious publication via Ngootuguut local community whatsapp platform alleging that the entire Ngootuguut community was involved in a plot to eliminate you, which you know the content of the said publication to be false but send it out for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will and needless anxiety in the Ngootuguut community and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.

COUNT TWO “That you, Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, adult, male, of Ngotuguut, Shendam, Plateau, sometime in May 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did send a malicious publication via Ngootuguut local community whatsapp platform alleging that the entire Ngootuguut community was involved in a plot to eliminate you, which you know the content of the said publication to be false with intent to incite or cause breach to public peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.