By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Following persistent malicious publications against former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari by one Jackson Ude, Point Blank News, Tracknews NG and Akelicious, the Executive Director of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, former Governorship Candidate in Zamfara State and APC Chieftain, directs Dexter Law Firm to write the Inspector General of Police and Director General Department of State Services (DSS).
Group Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police and Director General of State Security Services, DSS, over what it described as criminal defamation, libel and cybercrime involving Senator Abdulaziz Yari and other senior officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a formal complaint dated April 24, 2026, and addressed to the IGP at Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, the NGO’s solicitors, Dexter Law Firm, called for a thorough investigation into the activities of one Jackson Ude, as well as online platforms Tracknews NG and Akelicious.
The petition stated that the organisation is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and works to promote peace, social development, and protect the integrity of its members and other citizens. It added that it had obtained the consent of those affected before lodging the complaint.
At the centre of the petition are two posts published on April 16 and April 22, 2026, on the X account @Jacksonpbn, allegedly operated by Jackson Ude with WhatsApp number +1(347)323-1693. The posts made wide-ranging allegations against Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who represents Zamfara West in the Senate and is a former governor of Zamfara State.
In the April 16 post titled “YARIGATE: ABDULAZIZ YARI, SHARING BILLIONS TO BLACKMAIL, BECOME VP”, Ude alleged that Yari was distributing billions of naira to politicians to secure records for blackmail and was lobbying to become Vice President should President Bola Tinubu drop Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The post further claimed that Yari boasted of paying N2 billion monthly to the APC National Chairman and another N2 billion monthly to First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars to some of the President’s aides to gain access. It also alleged that Yari gave $5 million to Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury at a recent birthday event.
Ude also alleged that Yari set up a political movement called The Renewed Hope Network (TRHN) for President Tinubu and gave N9 billion to Hon. Abiodun Faleke to run it on his behalf.
He further claimed that Yari kept records of all payments, including a $20 million gift to late President Muhammadu Buhari and $3 million to former First Lady Aisha Buhari in 2021, which he allegedly cited in a 2022 statement to security agencies during a fraud investigation.
The April 22 post alleged that N1.7 trillion had been traced to Yari and linked to terrorism financing and money laundering. It claimed the funds were connected to accounts belonging to Engr. Abdulkarim Tsafe, Yari’s former Chief of Staff, and Kayatawa Nigeria Limited, a company said to be owned by the senator.
According to the post, the N1.7 trillion was part of funds used to purchase the Geregu Power Plant. It also referenced a 2021 Federal High Court order for the forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari and his companies, listing several bank accounts with sums in both naira and dollars.
The post further alleged that Yari’s financial activities had been flagged by authorities in the United Arab Emirates, who shared information with the United States, resulting in his classification as a “person of interest” by both countries. It also accused him of operating a significant gold market in Dubai from alleged illegal gold mining in Zamfara.
The petition said similar allegations were published on April 18 by Tracknews NG on its website and on April 16 by Akelicious, both repeating the claims against Senator Yari.
The NGO argued that the statements were not only injurious to Senator Yari’s reputation but were also targeted at the Presidency, the First Lady, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and other close associates of the ruling party.
It alleged that Jackson Ude was acting on behalf of opposition parties to undermine the image of key APC figures ahead of the general elections. The petition described the publications as a deliberate attempt to blackmail and heat up the polity.
Citing the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024, the petitioners demanded that Jackson Ude, Tracknews NG and Akelicious be invited to justify their claims and explain the source of the information.
They urged the IGP to conduct a thorough investigation to safeguard the fundamental rights of Senator Yari and other affected individuals and to prevent further criminal defamation.
The petition added that the Executive Directors of the group are willing to cooperate fully with security agencies to ensure a comprehensive probe into the allegations.
