Ex-NBA Chairman Tsenyen Faces Fresh Legal Battle, Remanded In DSS Custody

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Shendam Branch in Plateau State, Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, has been remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered on Friday that Tsenyen remain in DSS custody pending a ruling on whether he can be arraigned afresh over allegations bordering on cyberstalking and incitement of public disturbances.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter, fixed August 20 to determine whether the former NBA chairman can face a fresh trial on the allegations.

The DSS had brought Tsenyen before the court on a new two-count charge involving alleged cyberstalking and incitement to breach public peace.

However, after the defendant was called into the dock to enter his plea, his lawyer, Emmanuel Esene (SAN), challenged the fresh arraignment.

Esene informed the court that his client had previously been arraigned before the same court over the same allegations and that the earlier case had already been adjourned until September 28 for trial.

The defence counsel therefore urged the court to reject the new charges, arguing that allowing the fresh case to proceed could expose Tsenyen to double jeopardy.

Counsel for the DSS, Muinat Oladunjoye, who appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said she was not aware of any previous charge against the defendant.

After listening to both sides, Justice Abdulmalik asked the defence to produce a copy of the earlier charge.

Esene presented the document to the court, prompting the judge to request the record of proceedings from the earlier case to establish whether Tsenyen had indeed been previously arraigned over the same allegations.

The defence explained that the fresh charge had come as a surprise on Thursday and that it was unable to immediately obtain the previous record.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently ordered that the record of the earlier proceedings be produced on August 20 for examination.

Pending the production and review of the documents, the judge directed that Tsenyen be remanded at the DSS detention facility.

The fresh charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo.

Allegations Against Tsenyen

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Tsenyen, sometime in May 2026, posted a malicious message on the Ngootuguut local community WhatsApp platform.

According to the prosecution, the lawyer alleged in the message that the entire community was involved in a plan to eliminate him.

The prosecution further alleged that Tsenyen knew the claim was false but published it with the intention of causing annoyance, insult, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will and unnecessary anxiety within the community.

The alleged offence was said to contravene Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.

In the second count, the prosecution alleged that Tsenyen circulated the same message with the intention of inciting or causing a breach of public peace.

The second allegation was said to violate Section 114 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

The court is expected to determine on August 20 whether the fresh prosecution can proceed after examining the record of the earlier case.