By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The Executive Director of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, urging an investigation into social media influencer Bello Galadanchi, popularly known as Dan Bello, over videos alleging that former Zamfara State governor and Senator Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari diverted N1.7 trillion from the Federation Account.
The group claimed the videos unfairly damaged the reputations of Senator Yari, Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe and Ajap Financial Services Limited, and urged the police to investigate whether any criminal offences were committed and prosecute the influencer if a case is established.
In the petition signed by Shinkafi, the organisation accused Dan Bello, whom it described as being based in China, of waging a sustained online campaign against the former Zamfara governor.
It further alleged that Ajap Financial Services Limited and Tsafe were falsely portrayed in the videos as channels through which Senator Yari diverted public funds.
“While freedom of expression and of the media is a fundamental right, it must, however, be expressed responsibly,” the petition stated.
According to the petition, Dan Bello circulated the videos across several social media platforms, alleging that Senator Yari diverted N1.7 trillion from the Federation Account while serving as governor of Zamfara State through Ajap Financial Services Limited and Tsafe, whom the videos allegedly identified as the former governor’s chief of staff.
The group alleged that Dan Bello had “persistently carried out a campaign of calumny” against Senator Yari by circulating what it described as false claims that the senator diverted N1.7 trillion through Ajap Financial Services Limited and Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe, in an attempt to damage their reputations and expose them to public ridicule.
The petitioners further claimed the alleged online campaign had caused emotional distress, loss of business opportunities, social stigma and a decline in public confidence in those named, describing it as politically motivated.
“Unrestrained cyberbullying is not just an attack on individuals, it is an assault on the values of justice, decency, integrity, accountability and equity that our democracy is built upon,” the petition added.
The organisation also argued that Ajap Financial Services Limited, which it described as a company duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to provide financial business solutions to public and private sector organisations, had suffered reputational damage as a result of the allegations.
It further contended that the alleged publications violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as well as relevant provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes relating to defamation.
The petition also alleged that Dan Bello and his sponsors failed to substantiate the claims made against Senator Yari, Tsafe and Ajap Financial Services Limited.
The group urged the Inspector-General to order a thorough investigation into the allegations and prosecute the influencer if any offences are established. It said it attached flash drives containing the disputed videos and screenshots of the social media posts in support of its petition.
