The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a man identified as Mubarak Abdullahi, popularly known as Sardaunan Samari, over the circulation of a purportedly fake letter allegedly written by President Bola Tinubu and addressed to the President of the United States.
Abdullahi is facing a three-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and defamation at the Federal High Court in Kaduna State.
The development was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a post on social media on Monday.
According to Onanuga, the suspect was arrested on September 28, 2026, after sharing the disputed document on his Facebook page with the caption, “ATIKU IS COMING.”
The document, which circulated widely online, was presented as correspondence from Tinubu to US President Donald Trump amid public discussions surrounding records held by American authorities.
Suspect Reportedly Admitted Sharing Document
Onanuga stated that Abdullahi admitted to investigators that he had shared the document and subsequently apologised for his actions.
However, the presidential aide said the apology did not prevent the authorities from proceeding with the case.
The suspect was reportedly arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court No. 10 in Kabala Doki, Kaduna, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna.
The DSS has also filed a three-count charge against him at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. According to the report, a date for his formal arraignment before the Federal High Court had yet to be fixed as of Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Presidential Aide Defends Action
Onanuga said the case demonstrated the government’s determination to identify individuals involved in circulating misleading information online.
He maintained that the authorities would continue to pursue those accused of spreading false information through digital platforms.
The case has drawn attention to the legal consequences that may arise from publishing or sharing purported official documents whose authenticity has not been established.
Sowore Criticises Arrest
Meanwhile, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticised the arrest, questioning the use of a national security agency in pursuing the case.
In a post on X, Sowore described the arrest as an attempt to suppress dissent and argued that a citizen should not face such treatment for sharing a document online.
His comments have added another dimension to the controversy, with the case raising questions about the balance between tackling alleged cybercrime and protecting freedom of expression.
As proceedings continue, the allegations against Abdullahi remain subject to determination by the court.
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