The Department of State Services has arraigned one Mubarak Abdullahi, also known as Sardaunan Samari, for sharing a fake document purportedly written by President Bola Tinubu and addressed to the President of the United States of America.
He was charged with three counts bordering on cybercrime and defamation at the Federal High Court, Kaduna.
Abdullahi was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna, according to a tweet late Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Informationa nd Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The tweet read, “An avowed supporter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar now faces trial in Kaduna for circulating a document purportedly written by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the President of the United States of America.
“The suspect, Mubarak Abdullahi (aka Sardaunan Samari), was arrested on 28 September for sharing the fake document on his Facebook page with the caption “ATIKU IS COMING.”
“Mubarak admitted to investigators that he shared the fake document and apologised for his actions. The contrition was not enough.
“The DSS arraigned him before Chief Magistrate Court No. 10, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna,” adding that the agency “has filed a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime and defamation against him at the Federal High Court, Kaduna.”
Onanuga noted that the date for Abdullahi’s formal arraignment is yet to be fixed.
The presidential aide assured that the DSS will continue to show that it has the “capacity to trace those engaged in circulating misleading information in cyberspace.”
PUNCH Online couldn’t independently verify the report that Abdullahi is a supporter of the former VP. As of the time of writing this report, neither Abubakar nor his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, has reacted.
However, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has lamented Abdullahi’s arrest.
Commenting on his X handle on Tuesday, Sowore wrote, “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?
“Arresting a hapless citizen for posting a document online – sad! Shame on all of you! A day of reckoning is coming, when you too will be held accountable for your actions. That day is coming sooner than you think. Very soon!”
