A cybercrime and criminal defamation case against Kano-based cleric, Sheikh Adam Zubair Adam, popularly known as Baffa Hotoro, has stalled for the third time following his failure to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment.
Mr Hotoro is facing a two-count charge over alleged criminal defamation involving the late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, and another cleric, Sheikh Munir Adam Koza.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/87/2026, is being prosecuted under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The matter is before Justice M.S. Liman, who has adjourned proceedings on three occasions largely because of the defendant’s non-appearance for arraignment.
The court has now fixed October 19, 2026, for the arraignment.
Mr Hotoro, who was arrested and granted bail in February 2026, was initially scheduled to be arraigned on April 23.
However, he was absent from court on that date, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to May 21.
When the case came up on May 21, the defendant was again absent and did not have legal representation in court. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 22.
At the last sitting, Mr Hotoro was again absent.
His counsel, Mr Amos, appeared before the court and presented a medical report stating that the defendant was indisposed and unable to attend the proceedings.
However, it was subsequently reported that the cleric was active on social media and had appeared on a Facebook livestream around the period of the court proceedings.
Following the repeated absence, efforts were reportedly made by the police to secure the defendant’s attendance, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
