Authorities have allegedly detained Fonya Sule, a 33-year-old cake baker from Didan village in Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State, since August 2026 over a Facebook post they interpreted as referring to Governor Agbu Kefas and Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate.
Family sources told SaharaReporters that Sule was arrested by police operatives attached to the Taraba State Government House following the publication, which they alleged was interpreted as an attack on the governor and Ibrahim.
The family accused the Taraba State Government of using the police and the magistrate court to keep Sule in detention for more than two months over the post.
They further explained that the authorities had failed to release him or produce him before the Federal High Court in Abuja despite court proceedings initiated to challenge his continued detention.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters indicate that Sule was accused of cyberstalking and defamation of character over the Facebook publication.
..., which reportedly appeared on Sule’s Facebook account on August 8, 2026, read: “Aunty Zee be very careful ooh if not u will soon carry belle that ur boss na one time bugu.”
According to the police report, the publication was allegedly directed at Governor Kefas. However, the family said the authorities interpreted the post as referring to Ibrahim, popularly known as Aunty Zee, and the governor, whom Sule allegedly described as her boss.
The family claimed that the arrest and subsequent detention were politically motivated and amounted to an attempt to punish Sule for expressing himself on social media.
Government House Police Allegedly Carried Out Arrest
According to an information report prepared for the Chief Magistrate in Jalingo, police operatives attached to the State Intelligence Department at the Taraba State Government House acted on intelligence on August 12, 2026, and proceeded to Didan village in Kurmi Local Government Area.
The report stated that the operation was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Johnson Joseph, who allegedly supervised the arrest of Sule over allegations of cyberbullying and defamation.
The police document stated that investigators discovered that Sule had used his Facebook account, bearing the name “Fonya Sule,” to publish the controversial statement on August 8.
It further alleged that the publication was false, malicious, defamatory and injurious to the governor’s reputation, adding that it was intended to bully, harass and expose him to public ridicule, hatred and contempt.
The report cited Section 24(1)(a) and (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as well as Section 392 of the Penal Code Law.
The document identified Sule as a 33-year-old cake baker residing in Didan village, Kurmi Local Government Area.
Taraba Government Files Criminal Complaint
A separate criminal complaint filed by the Attorney-General of Taraba State before the Upper Area Court of Jalingo also accused Sule of publishing the statement concerning Ibrahim and Governor Kefas.
The complaint, filed under Case No. 1/138/26, was brought pursuant to Section 122(a) of the Taraba State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021.
According to the document, Sule allegedly made the publication on or about August 12, 2026, with the intention of harming, or knowing that it could harm, the reputations of Ibrahim and the governor.
The complaint reproduced the statement attributed to Sule and identified Ibrahim by her full name, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, alongside her nickname, Aunty Zee.
The filing shows that the Taraba State Government pursued a criminal complaint against Sule over the social media post.
Family sources, however, maintained that the response to the publication was excessive and accused the government of using state institutions to keep him in detention.
Family Alleges Governor’s Aide Assaulted Detainee
The family further said that a political aide to Governor Kefas, identified as Atoh Jonah, repeatedly slapped Sule and pressured him to admit that the Facebook post was referring to the governor.
According to the family, the assault was intended to force Sule to acknowledge that Governor Kefas was the person he described as “your oga” in the publication.
Federal High Court Proceedings
In a bid to challenge Sule’s continued detention, an application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights was filed before the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja.
The case, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1934/2026, was instituted by Sule against the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State.
A court document dated Friday, August 28, 2026, and signed by Justice Chigozie Sergius Onah showed that the applicant sought an order granting him bail pending his arraignment or trial before a competent court.
Meanwhile, Sule asked the Federal High Court to direct the respondents to produce him before the court and show cause why he should not be admitted to bail.
The application was dated August 17 and filed on August 18, 2026.
Family sources told SaharaReporters that the matter had been taken to the Federal High Court since August 31 and accused the authorities of refusing to produce Sule or release him.
They further explained that, instead of resolving the matter and securing his release, the authorities filed fresh charges against him.
Magistrate Court Detention Raises Concerns
The family also said that the authorities used a magistrate court to keep Sule in detention for more than two months.
They specifically mentioned a magistrate identified as Chris Jonah, whom they accused of ordering Sule’s detention.
The family also referenced the case of human rights activist Abdulmumin Imam, whom they said had previously been detained through the same judicial officer.
The case comes amid continuing concerns over the use of cybercrime and defamation allegations in disputes involving social media commentary and public officials.
Sule’s family has called for his release, insisting that he should not remain in custody for months over the Facebook post.
The family also wants the authorities to account for his continued detention and address the allegation that a government aide assaulted him.