Group alleges cyberbullying and defamation, urges probe and prosecution over viral claims targeting ex-Zamfara governor and Ajap Financial Services

A civil society group, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate and prosecute social media influencer Bello Galadanchi, known as “DanBello,” over allegations of cybercrime, harassment and defamation against Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari and Ajap Financial Services Limited. 

In the petition dated June 26 and submitted to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the group accused DanBello, who it said is based in the Republic of China, of circulating video clips on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and X that claimed Senator Yari diverted ₦1.7 trillion from the Federation Account while he was Governor of Zamfara State. 

According to the petition signed by Executive Director Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, Ph.D, DanBello alleged that the funds were moved through Ajap Financial Services Limited and one Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe, who the group identified as Yari’s former Chief of Staff. 

The Patriots group said the claims are “false, fake and misleading” and were pushed “to bring Senator Yari, Ajap Financial Services Limited and Abdulkarim Tsafe to public ridicule” during an electoral season. It described the campaign as “a calculated attempt” to damage reputations and cause “emotional distress, loss of business opportunities, social stigma and lack of public confidence.” 

Ajap Financial Services Limited, the group stated, is a Corporate Affairs Commission-registered private limited liability company that provides financial business solutions to public and private sector clients in Nigeria. 

The petition urged the IGP to conduct a “discreet and comprehensive investigation” and, if culpable, prosecute DanBello for alleged breaches under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes relating to defamation of character. 

It also invoked Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution on the right to privacy and dignity, arguing that while the Constitution does not expressly list a “right to business,” it implicitly protects economic rights and protection from unlawful attacks on reputation. 

Shinkafi condemned what he called “harassment, intimidation, cyberbullying, cyberstalking and defamation” of the former Zamfara governor, who is now a serving senator. He said such attacks “threaten to erode the deep-rooted tradition of respect and honour for Northern leaders” and run contrary to Islamic and cultural values that respect elders and those in authority. 

“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 stated. 

The group said it attached flash drives containing the video clips posted by DanBello, along with screenshots, for police action. It argued that while freedom of expression is guaranteed, it “must be expressed responsibly,” and accused DanBello and his alleged sponsors of failing to substantiate the claims against Senator Yari, Tsafe and Ajap Financial Services Limited. 

The Patriots said immediate investigation and prosecution would serve as a deterrent “to others who may be recruited into cyberstalking of opponents by desperate politicians” in this electoral cycle. 

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Interpol National Central Bureau, and the Director/Commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja. 

Efforts to reach DanBello for comment were not successful at the time of filing this report. 

Senator Yari served as Governor of Zamfara State from 2011 to 2019 and currently represents Zamfara West in the Senate.