Court Dismisses State Case in Ida Chicker Chabs Social Media Dispute

The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe has dismissed a high-profile offensive communication case involving social media personality Esther Ida Chabuka and her former employee, Shannon Williams Kayuza.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, Senior Resident Magistrate Bracious Blessusall Chanda Kondowe acquitted Kayuza at the close of the State’s case, citing failure by the prosecution to establish a prima facie case. As a result, Kayuza was not required to present a defence.

The case stemmed from allegations by Chabuka—popularly known as Ida Chicker Chabs—that Kayuza posted offensive and defamatory content about her on a Facebook page titled “The Shannon McWilliams” between October and December 10, 2025.

According to court testimony, the posts accused Chabuka of owing K500,000, described her in derogatory terms, and allegedly threatened to release sensitive information if the purported debt was not paid. Chabuka told the court the posts caused reputational harm, disrupted her business, and distressed her family. She submitted screenshots as evidence.

However, in a detailed 17-page ruling, Magistrate Kondowe found significant gaps in the prosecution’s case, particularly in establishing when the alleged posts were made and whether Kayuza was responsible for them.

“The court cannot be invited to guess or speculate on when the alleged posts were made,” Kondowe said, noting that most of the submitted screenshots lacked dates, while the only dated image referenced “13 November” without specifying the year.

The magistrate further ruled that the State failed to prove ownership or control of the Facebook account in question, describing it as the “scene of the crime” that required clear linkage to the accused.

“Mere reliance on Facebook posts without credible proof of authorship or control is insufficient—no two ways about it,” he stated.

Kondowe characterized the evidence as “speculation” and “suspicion, not proof,” and criticized the investigation process. He noted that authorities searched the accused’s phone without a court warrant and failed to present any forensic evidence connecting him to the posts.

“The State has presented nothing but empty shadows,” he concluded.

Kayuza was acquitted under Section 254(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code.

Legal observers say the ruling underscores the importance of reliable digital evidence in cases involving online communication, setting a precedent for how courts may handle similar disputes in the future.