A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has written a petition to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Disu, and also copied the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, and the Interpol National Central Bureau, NCB, to investigate and prosecute the allegations of cybercrime, harassment and defamation of character by a China-based social media influencer Bello Galadanchi also known as Danbello.
The petition also forwarded to the Director/Commissioner, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, was also written on behalf of former Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Abdulkarim Tsafe and one other.
Danbello is said to have falsely circulated a what the petitioner described as a politically motivated video clips on social media that portrayed Senator Yari to have diverted N1.7 trillion from the federation account through Ajap Financial Services and Tsafe.
The petitioner told the security agencies that the said video has damaged the reputations of Yari and others and brought them to ridicule before right-thinking members of the public.
The petition said, “We hereby forward a petition to your esteemed office to discreetly make a comprehensive investigation, if found culpable, prosecute one Bello Galadanchi popularly called “Danbello” based in the Republic of China for grievous allegations of cybercrime and breach of fundamental human rights as prescribed in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, targeting His Excellency, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Abdulkarim Tsafe and Board of Directors of Ajap Financial Services Limited.
“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not explicitly list or ‘right to business’ as a fundamental human right in Chapter IV. However, it implicitly guarantees the right to engage in business broader economic rights and protection
“We strongly condemn the harassment, intimidation, cyberbullying, cyberstalking and defamation of character of a highly respected public figure like the former Governor of Zamfara State and serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari. It is an affront to Islamic tradition, teachings and dignity of the good people of Zamfara State and the entire Northern region.
“These irresponsible and unpatriotic attacks on a distinguished Senator and former Governor of Zamfara State threaten to erode the deep rooted tradition of respect and honour for Northern leaders our people hold in high esteem.
“Our culture and Islamic religion respect elders and those in authority. Any actions that demean our leaders in the North undermine the very fabric of our identity.
“Allowing this irresponsible behaviour to continue unchecked risks setting a dangerous precedence.
“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. It is unfair, unjust and wicked to maliciously attack a highly respected political figure like Senator Yari and Ajap Financial Services Limited on social media to ruin their reputations and bring them to ridicule before right thinking members of the public to achieve a political agenda of his opponents.
“Bello Galanchi (DanBello) has persistently carried out a campaign of calumny, aspersion, defamation, denigration and derogation against Senator Yari and widely circulated on social media that Yari diverted N1.7 trillion from Federation Account while he was governor of Zamfara State using Ajap Financial Services Limited and one Abdullahi Abdulkarim he identified as Yari’s chief of staff which he knew was false, fake and misleading, a calculated attempt to bring Senator Yari, Ajap Financial Services Limited and Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe to public ridicule.
“The disgusting cyberbullying in this electoral season has already caused enormous emotional distress, loss of business opportunities, social stigma and lack of public confidence to the victims of these politically motivated attacks by DanBello who operates Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tik, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
“It is evident that the alleged attacks by DanBello on social media platforms violated extant laws including Cybercrime Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015, and clear provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes relating to defamation of character.
“While freedom of expression and of the media is a fundamental right, it must, however, be expressed responsibly. B
Danbello and his sponsors failed woefully to substantiate his allegations against Yari, Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe and Ajap Financial Services Limited.
“We urge you to use your good offices to immediately investigate the cyberbullying and cyberstalking by Danbello Galadanchi against Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Ajap Financial Services Limited and prosecute him to ensure that justice is served. It will also be a deterrent to others who may be recruited into cyberstalking of opponents by desperate politicians in this electoral season.
“We enclose flash drives of the video clips posted by DanBello on social media platforms and screen shots for your information and necessary action, please.
“We look forward to your prompt response to this politically motivated reprehensible cybercrime.”