-
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime and defamation against Mubarak Abdullahi, also known as Sardaunan Samari.
-
Abdullahi was arrested on September 28 for allegedly sharing a purportedly fake letter attributed to President Bola Tinubu and addressed to the US president, with the caption, “ATIKU IS COMING.”
-
President Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, said the suspect admitted sharing the document during investigations and apologised, but the DSS proceeded with the case.
-
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the arrest, accusing the Tinubu administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state institutions to suppress dissent.
October 27, (THEWILL) – The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime and defamation against a Kaduna man and supporter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Mubarak Abdullahi, over the alleged circulation of a fake letter purportedly written by President Bola Tinubu to the President of the United States.
Abdullahi, also known as Sardaunan Samari, was arrested on September 28 after allegedly sharing the document on his Facebook page with the caption, “ATIKU IS COMING.”
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a post on X late Monday, stating that the suspect had been arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court No. 10, Kabala Doki, Kaduna.
According to Onanuga, the court ordered Abdullahi’s remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna, while the DSS filed a separate three-count charge against him at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
In his post, Onanuga described Abdullahi as an avowed supporter of Atiku and said the case concerned the circulation of a document purportedly written by Tinubu and addressed to the US president.
He said the suspect admitted during investigations that he shared the document and apologised for his action.
However, Onanuga said the apology did not prevent the agency from proceeding with the case.
He added that the DSS would continue to identify individuals involved in circulating what the government considers misleading information online.
READ ALSO:
Meanwhile, human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the arrest, accusing the DSS of being used to suppress dissent.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Sowore questioned the involvement of the security agency in a case arising from a social media publication.
He accused the Tinubu administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state institutions to silence critics and restrict citizens’ freedom of expression.
“How low will you go, #OfficialAPCNg and the #officialABAT regime? How on earth do you reduce a national security agency like the #OfficialDSSNG to a mere vacuum cleaner, deployed to sweep up dissenting voices in your inordinate ambition to subdue every citizen simply because you are afraid to face the Nigerian people and account for your disastrous reign?” Sowore wrote.
He also condemned the arrest, describing it as troubling for a citizen to be taken into custody over a document shared online.
As of the time of filing this report, Atiku Abubakar and his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had not publicly commented on the case.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
