The cybercrime case against controversial social media personality Scophine Aoko Otieno, popularly known as Maverick Aoko, resumed on June 26, 2025, at the Milimani Law Courts. The hearing, presided over by Magistrate Dolphina Alego, saw prosecution witness Sergeant Norah Shidi take the stand.
Aoko, who was charged in 2024, is accused of publishing false information, cyber harassment, and the misuse of electronic data on her ‘X’ social media platform. The prosecution alleges that she posted content on August 3, 2024, that targeted certain individuals with the intention of causing fear and damaging reputations.
Testifying in court, Sergeant Shidi recounted that she and Chief Inspector Patience Mungero were dispatched to execute Aoko’s arrest on August 16, 2024, acting under a miscellaneous application file E2737/2024. During a search at Aoko’s Gatanga Road residence, they recovered various electronic devices, including phones, a Dell laptop, and a flash disk, which were listed in an inventory and taken for forensic analysis.
Shidi said Aoko was shown the arrest warrant, informed of the charges, and cooperated by unlocking her phone to retrieve the IMEI number. However, during cross-examination, defence lawyer Kennedy Echesa raised legal concerns over the process. He challenged the officers’ authority, pointing out that the warrant named Chief Inspector Nixon Kinyua as the authorised officer, not Shidi.
Shidi admitted that she did not present the warrant before entering the residence and failed to sign any inventory during the handover of evidence. She also acknowledged she had no direct proof the seized items belonged to Aoko.
Chief Inspector Kinyua, present in court, confirmed he is among the lead investigators and listed key witnesses, including Shidi, a digital forensic expert, and Jimal Ibrahim Hassan. The court was told that several adjournments had delayed the case due to witness unavailability.
The defence, represented by lawyers Kennedy Echesa and Anyena, accused the prosecution of dragging the matter and requested that the court consider closing the case.
Aoko has pleaded not guilty and remains out on a Sh100,000 cash bail. The hearing continues.
