The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a Kaduna resident, Mubarak Abdullahi, over the alleged online circulation of a forged letter purportedly written by President Bola Tinubu to the President of the United States, with the suspect remanded in a correctional facility.
The development was disclosed by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X late Monday, October 26, 2026.
According to Onanuga, Abdullahi, also known as Sardaunan Samari, was arrested on September 28 after allegedly posting the document on his Facebook page with the caption, “ATIKU IS COMING.”
The DSS subsequently arraigned him before Chief Magistrate Court No. 10, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna, Onanuga said.
He added that the secret police had filed a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime and defamation against Abdullahi before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
Onanuga said the suspect admitted during investigation to sharing the document and apologised for his action, but the apology did not prevent the prosecution from proceeding.
The case has also drawn criticism from human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who accused the Tinubu administration of using the DSS to clamp down on dissenting voices.
In a post on X, Sowore condemned the arrest, questioning the involvement of a national security agency in a case involving the online publication of a document.
He argued that the action could amount to the suppression of dissent, describing the arrest as an example of what he considers the misuse of state security institutions.
The allegations against Abdullahi come amid wider concerns over the circulation of fabricated information on social media and the question of how authorities should respond to such publications without undermining freedom of expression.
Onanuga said the DSS would continue to identify individuals involved in circulating misleading information online.
As of the time of filing this report, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had not publicly reacted to the development.
The allegations against Abdullahi remain subject to determination by the court.
