DSS Arraigns Mubarak Abdullahi: Fake Tinubu Letter Charges

• Mubarak Abdullahi, also known as Sardaunan Samari, was arraigned by the Department of State Services on October 27, 2026.
• He faces three counts of cybercrime and defamation for sharing a fake letter purportedly from President Tinubu to the US President.
• Abdullahi was arrested on September 28 after posting the document on his Facebook page with the caption "ATIKU IS COMING."
• He admitted to investigators that he shared the fake document and apologized, subsequently being remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna.
• Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the arrest, accusing the government of using the DSS to suppress dissenting voices online.

The incident underscores a growing tension between online expression and governmental efforts to control the dissemination of information deemed misleading or defamatory.

The Department of State Services (DSS) recently brought charges against Mubarak Abdullahi, also known by his alias Sardaunan Samari, in connection with the dissemination of a fabricated document. Abdullahi was arraigned on October 27, 2026, facing three counts related to cybercrime and defamation. The charges stem from his alleged sharing of a document falsely purporting to be a letter from President Bola Tinubu addressed to the President of the United States of America.

Abdullahi's arrest occurred on September 28 after he posted the contentious document on his Facebook page, accompanying it with the caption "ATIKU IS COMING." Following his apprehension, Abdullahi reportedly admitted to investigators that he had indeed shared the fake document and expressed an apology for his actions. Despite his contrition, he was subsequently arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court No. 10, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna.

The formal charges of cybercrime and defamation against Mubarak Abdullahi have been filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. While the Chief Magistrate Court handled the initial arraignment and remand order, the substantive legal proceedings for the three counts will take place at the higher court. The specific date for Abdullahi's formal arraignment before the Federal High Court is yet to be determined.

This action by the DSS aligns with a broader commitment articulated by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Onanuga emphasized the DSS's capability and ongoing efforts to identify and track individuals involved in circulating misleading information within the digital sphere, indicating a proactive approach to online content regulation.

The arraignment of Mubarak Abdullahi was publicly announced via a tweet late Monday by Bayo Onanuga, who identified Abdullahi as "an avowed supporter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar." However, independent verification of Abdullahi's political affiliation by PUNCH Online was not possible at the time of reporting, and neither Atiku Abubakar nor his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had issued a statement regarding the incident.

The arrest and subsequent charges have drawn sharp criticism from human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Sowore condemned the actions of the #OfficialAPCNg and the #officialABAT regime, accusing them of diminishing the role of a national security agency like the DSS into a tool for suppressing dissenting voices. He described the arrest of a citizen for an online post as "sad" and "shameful," asserting that accountability for such actions would eventually come.

The incident underscores a growing tension between online expression and governmental efforts to control the dissemination of information deemed misleading or defamatory.

Lawyers should advise clients on the increasing enforcement against online dissemination of unverified or defamatory content, particularly concerning public figures, as demonstrated by the DSS's swift action in this cybercrime and defamation case. Compliance officers should review and reinforce social media policies to mitigate risks associated with employees sharing potentially illegal or misleading information online.

Source: Reporting based on PUNCH Online's account.