By Abdullahi Alhassan
Kaduna, Nigeria, April 24,2026(Series News Online)- A civil society organisation has asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services to probe online publishers over what it termed “criminal defamation and cybercrime” against Senator Abdulaziz Yari and other All Progressives Congress leaders.
Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, through its solicitors Dexter Law Firm, submitted a formal petition dated April 24, 2026, to the Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja. The complaint targets one Jackson Ude, Point Blank News, Tracknews NG, and Akelicious.
The group’s Executive Director, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a former Zamfara State governorship candidate and APC chieftain, said the move followed “persistent malicious publications” against the former Zamfara governor and current Senator for Zamfara West.
“We are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and our mandate includes promoting peace, social development, and protecting the integrity of citizens,” the petition stated. “We have secured the consent of the persons affected before lodging this complaint.”
At issue are two posts published on April 16 and April 22, 2026, on the X handle @Jacksonpbn, which the petitioners said is operated by Jackson Ude with WhatsApp number +1(347)323-1693.
The April 16 post, captioned “YARIGATE: ABDULAZIZ YARI, SHARING BILLIONS TO BLACKMAIL, BECOME VP,” alleged that Senator Yari was disbursing billions of naira to politicians to obtain materials for blackmail and to position himself as Vice President if President Bola Tinubu dropped Vice President Kashim Shettima.
It further claimed Yari boasted of remitting N2 billion monthly to the APC National Chairman and another N2 billion monthly to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside hundreds of thousands of dollars to presidential aides to gain access. The post also alleged Yari gifted $5 million to Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury during a recent birthday celebration.
According to the petition, Ude also alleged that the senator established a political group, The Renewed Hope Network, TRHN, for President Tinubu and released N9 billion to Hon. Abiodun Faleke to manage it.
The post claimed Yari maintained records of all disbursements, including a $20 million gift to the late President Muhammadu Buhari and $3 million to former First Lady Aisha Buhari in 2021, which he allegedly referenced in a 2022 statement to security agencies during a fraud probe.
In the April 22 post, Ude alleged that N1.7 trillion linked to terrorism financing and money laundering had been traced to Senator Yari. The funds, the post claimed, were tied to accounts of Engr. Abdulkarim Tsafe, Yari’s former Chief of Staff, and Kayatawa Nigeria Limited, a firm said to belong to the senator.
“The N1.7 trillion was part of funds used to purchase the Geregu Power Plant,” the post stated, adding that a 2021 Federal High Court order had directed the forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari and his companies, listing multiple bank accounts in naira and dollars.
The post further alleged that authorities in the United Arab Emirates flagged Yari’s financial dealings and shared intelligence with the United States, leading to his designation as a “person of interest” by both countries. It also accused him of running a major gold market in Dubai from alleged illegal mining in Zamfara.
The petition noted that Tracknews NG republished similar claims on April 18 on its website, while Akelicious carried them on April 16.
Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development argued that the publications damaged Senator Yari’s reputation and also targeted the Presidency, the First Lady, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and other party associates.
“Jackson Ude is acting for opposition parties to damage the image of key APC figures ahead of the general elections,” the petition alleged. “The publications are a calculated attempt to blackmail and heat up the polity.”
Invoking the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, etc. Amendment Act 2024, the group asked the IGP to summon Jackson Ude, Tracknews NG, and Akelicious to substantiate their allegations and disclose their sources.
“We urge the IGP to carry out a thorough investigation to protect the fundamental rights of Senator Yari and others affected, and to stop further criminal defamation,” the petition added.
The NGO said its Executive Directors are ready to cooperate with security agencies to ensure a comprehensive probe into the claims.
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