Organisation petitions Police, DSS to investigate online publishers over alleged defamation, cybercrime

Organisation petitions Police, DSS to investigate online publishers over alleged defamation, cybercrime

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), an NGO, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police to investigate social media personality Jackson Ude and two online news platforms, over allegations of criminal defamation and cybercrime.

In a formal complaint dated April 24, 2026, filed through their solicitors, Dexter Law Firm, the NGO listed the two online news platform as Tracknews NG and Akelicious.

The organisation accused the parties of orchestrating a coordinated campaign of “falsehood and libel” against Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Presidency, and top officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The petition, signed by A.Y. Salihu, addressed to the Inspector General of Police and Director of DSS, cited various social media posts made by Ude between April 16 and April 22, 2026.

In the posts, Ude allegedly claimed that Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State, was “sharing billions” to high-ranking officials to blackmail them and secure a future Vice-Presidential slot.

Specifically, the petition notes that Ude alleged Yari pays specific amount monthly to the APC National and to the First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, as well as to businessman Gilbert Chargoury.

The complainant also highlighted a post alleging that N1.7 trillion had been “traced” to Yari’s accounts, linking the funds to terrorism financing and money laundering—claims the group describes as “injurious to the integrity and character” of the lawmaker.

The NGO alleged that the publications were strategically timed to “heat up the polity” and “defame strong associates of the Presidency” ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“It is unfathomable to people of good conscience that a person who has participated in building goodwill and good character will now be part of its destruction,” the petition read.

The group urged the DSS to invoke the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 to investigate the sources of these claims.

They demanded that Jackson Ude and the publishers of Tracknews NG and Akelicious be invited to provide proof of their allegations.

The petition further claims that Jackson Ude is acting on behalf of opposition interests to destabilise the ruling party.

The solicitors stated that their client, PAPSD, has the prior consent of the affected individuals to seek legal and security intervention.

They urged to conduct a thorough investigation to “safeguard the fundamental rights” of the Senator and others mentioned in the reports.