The police have filed six-count cybercrime charges against a Kano-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam (popularly known as Baffa Hotoro), over alleged criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, among others, against Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and Sheikh Mannir Adam Koza.
The charges, according to court filings, are offences contrary to Section 24(1)b under the Cyber Crime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act of 2015 (as amended) 2024.
The police filed the charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to official documents obtained by this newspaper.
The case No: FHC/ABJ/CR/87/2026, dated May 10, 2026, has the Inspector General of Police as the complainant and Sheikh Baffa Hotoro as the defendant.
The charges were signed by M.K. Yahaya, R.N. Maigoro, and A.I. Aminu, the Prosecuting Counsel, Directorate of Legal Services, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The court filings show that the cleric, who was arrested and granted bail earlier in February 2026, was to be arraigned at the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday, May 11, 2026.
But the arraignment couldn’t take place because the defendant was not in court.
This newspaper has obtained evidence that the defendant was fully served by the court, but still failed to appear without providing any reason.
— How it started —
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who died on November 25, 2025, was a prominent Islamic scholar and leader of the Tijjaniya movement with millions of followers in Nigeria and West Africa.
Sheikh Mannir Koza, an Islamic scholar, is one of the leading young voices in the Tijjaniya movement with a substantial following across the country.
Sheikh Baffa Hotoro is a Salafi cleric that carved a niche for himself in controversies that include attacking Sufi scholars and their venerated saints, well as his fellow Wahabi clerics.
On June 18 2024, Mr Hotoro made slanderous and derogatory statements against the two Muslim scholars, swearing with God that they are polytheists and idolaters, who are Islamically banned from entering the House of Allah in Makkah (Ka’aba).
Speaking in a viral video in Hausa Language, Sheikh Hotoro said, “I swear by Allah, Munir Koza is among the people that Allah disapproved of their visit to the Sacred House of Allah (Mecca). I swear by the mightiness of Allah, I swear by Allah; who owns my breath, Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the head of all-evil, by Allah he is among the people that Allah disapproved of their visit to His (Allah’s)
sacred house. These are polytheists. I swear by the mightiness of Allah, these people are polytheists and have no connection with Islamic religion. They are polytheists against the book of Allah and are polytheists against the tradition of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)”
Earlier on 19 May 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Mr Hotoro following complaints from the public and the Kano State government regarding alleged derogatory comments against Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi. He was later seen in a video apologizing to the sheikh, his family and followers.
However, in November last year after the passing of the octogenarian scholar, Mr Hotoro was seen in another viral video — allegedly making derogatory statements against the late Islamic scholar again, which capable of causing sectarian violence that may disrupt national security.
After petitions from the family of the late sheikh and Mr Koza, Mr Hotoro was arrested again on February this year by the police. He was, however granted bail.
— The six-count charge—
Count one of the charges reads, “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M’ of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano State on 18th June 2024 at about 2111hrs, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally went live on your social media handle known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and Facebook pages by means of computer system or network published a video which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, Inconvenience danger, obstruction, Insult, Injury Criminal Intimidation, Enmity, Hatred Ill Will or Needless anxiety against Sheikh Mannir Adam Koza and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 24(1) b under the cybercrime ( Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act of 2015 (as amended) 2024.
Count two: “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M’ of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano State on 27th November, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally went live on your social media handle known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and Facebook pages by means of computer system or network, published a video which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, Inconvenience danger, obstruction, Insult, Injury Criminal Intimidation, Enmity, Hatred, Ill Will or Needless anxiety against late Sheikh Usman Dahiru Bauchi and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 24(1)b under the cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act of 2015 (as amended) 2024.
Count three: “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M’ of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano vs State on 27th November, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally went live on your social media handles known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and Facebook pages published a video and with intent to cause a breach of peace insulted the person of late Sheikh Usman Dahiru Bauchi by calling him a Mushrik (non- believer of the oneness of Allah) action or statement you know can cause thereby commit an offence contrary to section 114 of the Penal Code Act. the disturbance of the peace by members of the Tijjaniyya movement and
Count four: “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano State on 18th June 2024 at about 2111hrs, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally went live on your social media handle known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and Facebook pages published a video with intent to cause a breach of peace insulted the person of Sheikh Mannir Adam Koza by calling him a Mushrik (non- believer of the oneness of Allah) action or statement you know can cause the disturbance of the peace by members of the Tijjaniyya movement and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 114 under the Penal Code Act.
Count five: “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M’ of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano State 18th June 2024 at about 2111hrs, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally speak or deliver a lecture which was published or reproduced into a video which goes viral and went live on your social media handle known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and Facebook pages with intent to cause harm makes false statement against the person of Sheikh Mannir Adam Koza having reason to believe that such false statement will harm the reputation of Sheikh Mannir Adam Koza, his family and followers by calling him a Mushrik (non- believer of the oneness of Allah) statement you know to be false and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 393 of the Penal Code Act.
Count six: “That you Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam ‘M of Hotoro Opposite CTR, Kano State on 27th November, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and intentionally speak or deliver a lecture which was published or reproduced into a video which goes viral and went live on your social media handles known as Sheikh Baffa Hotoro via your Tiktok and. Facebook pages knowing fully, with intent to cause harm makes false statement against the person of late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi having reason to believe that such false statement will harm the reputation of late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, his family and followers by calling him a Mushrik (non- believer of the oneness of Allah) statement you know to be false and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 393 of the Penal Code Act.”
—The petitions —
The case was pursuant to petitions, dated July 19, 2024, and December 10, 2025, with Ref Nos: CC/CGA/NPF/013/Vol. 1/24 and CC/CGA/NPF/014/Vol. 1/25, were addressed to the Inspector of Police.
The petitions were filed by Barrister M. M. Nasir of the Compass Chambers, on behalf of Sheikh Koza and Malam Naziru Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, on behalf of the late cleric’s family.
The petitioners said Mr Hotoro swore with God during public preaching that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and Sheikh Koza “were among those Allah did not permit to go to Ka’aba (the sacred and Grand Mosque in Makkah),” and further described them as Mushrik (polytheists).
The complainants said, “Given the national prominence, spiritual influence and extensive followership of the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, these reckless and inflammatory comments have the potential to incite anger, provoke unrest and emotionally destabilise his grieving followers, family members and millions of students of knowledge across Nigeria and beyond.”
They said the fact that these remarks were made after the Sheikh’s death and while the suspect is under investigation for similar misconduct underscores his blatant disregard for constituted authority and his unrepentant disposition to ward off spreading religious provocation and disharmony.”
The petitioners said, “It is pertinent to also inform you that even at the time when the suspect was invited by the police at their headquarters, he made boastful posts demeaning the police authority, and a copy of the said post has been given to the investigators.
The complaints prayed that, “In light of the above, we respectfully urge your esteemed office to: Expedite action on our earlier petition bearing Our Ref: CC/CGA/NPF/013/Vo1.1/24; dated 19th July 2024; and ensure that the suspect is brought to justice in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others who may exploit religious sentiments for malicious purposes.”
“Our late client and his family members are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who believe firmly in the rule of law. They rely on the Nigeria Police Force to urgently address this matter to prevent escalation, preserve public order, and ensure that the dignity of the late Sheikh is protected,” the petition reads.
—What other clerics say —
A cross section of Islamic scholars — from Sufi and Wahabi flanks — who spoke to this newspaper in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Jos, among others, said the legal action against Sheikh Hotoro would “sanitize the da’awa (preaching) ecosystem in the country.”
“This is a landmark case capable of sanitizing the da’awa system, particularly in Northern Nigeria; and also deescalate sectarian tension,” Ustaz Muhammad Sagir, said.
He said though preachers have the right to judge actions of people according to the Qur’an and Hadiths, “it is however totally unacceptable to arbitrary declare a person a polytheist or idolator.”
Another cleric, Malam Yusuf al-Maliky, said the legal action will deepen inter-sect fellowship and rein in preachers from desecrating the pulpits by making unguarded statements against other scholars.
Another cleric, Sheikh Husain Kasim, said security agencies “must be prompt in taking actions against clerics who betrayed their sacred mandate and resort to personal attacks. This will help in safeguarding public order and security.”
— Lawyers’ reactions—
Some legal practitioners have praised the petitioners for taking legal action against the defendant, instead of resorting to self-help or mob action. “It is worthy to commend the complainants for taking a legal action instead of resorting to taking the law into their hands. Religion is very sensitive in this part of the country,” Barr. Ibrahim Ahmad Kabir, said.
Speaking on the options before the court, another lawyer, Garba Mohammed, said a bench warrant against the defendant may be issued by the court if it establishes that he was fully served with the court process but failed to appear before it as demanded.
— Baffa Hotoro fails to respond —
Attempts by this newspaper to obtain response from Sheikh Hotoro were not possible as of the time of publishing this report.
Our correspondent had sent a text message to his mobile telephone seeking to know why he wasn’t in court for his arraignment. But there was no response. Similar message was later sent to his WhatsApp number, the cleric didn’t reply to it also.
