Akpabio Denies Anti-North Remark, Petitions DSS Over Viral Graphic

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over a purported anti-North statement attributed to him and circulated on Facebook and other digital platforms.

Akpabio, through his Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, asked the intelligence agency to urgently investigate what he described as the “creation and coordinated dissemination” of a false, inflammatory and divisive statement allegedly made by him.

The petition followed the circulation of a graphic bearing Akpabio’s photograph and his designation as President of the Senate. The graphic attributed to him the statement: “Northerners, you will be the ones to suffer the most, if you allow Tinubu to lose the election.”

Akpabio has denied making the statement, insisting that the quotation was fabricated and that there was no credible evidence linking him to it.

According to the petition, no date, venue, speech, interview, video, audio recording, official statement or credible news report has been produced to authenticate the purported comment.

“The President of the Senate did not make this statement,” the petition stated, adding that the graphic contained no identifiable publisher or verifiable source.

Akpabio’s office alleged that the material appeared to have been deliberately manufactured to deceive the public, provoke regional resentment against the Senate President and portray him as threatening people from Northern Nigeria.

The petition also alleged that a preliminary examination of publicly accessible Facebook records identified some of the earliest traceable accounts that amplified the disputed graphic.

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One of those named was Abdullai Musa, who allegedly posted the material in a Facebook group identified as Sheik Muhammad bin Uthman Group 24.

The petition also identified Uzoma Chilaka, whose Facebook post allegedly reproduced the graphic alongside commentary attributed to Boniface Uzoma Chilaka.

It further referred to Engineer Ibrahim Umar Ammar, whose verified Facebook account allegedly reproduced the graphic and similar commentary.

Akpabio’s office, however, stressed that the individuals mentioned in the petition should not be presumed guilty of creating or circulating the alleged false statement.

Instead, they were described as “material persons of interest” whose alleged early and substantial involvement in sharing the material could provide investigators with information needed to establish its origin.

The petition urged the DSS to investigate the publication records, devices and communications of relevant persons and establish the provenance of the disputed image.

It also asked the security agency to determine the identity of the person who created the graphic, its original uploader, possible sponsors and intermediaries, as well as the network through which the material was allegedly distributed.

Akpabio’s media team separately challenged those circulating the allegation to provide evidence that he made the purported statement.

His media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, described the allegation as a “complete fabrication” and said those behind it should produce evidence such as a video, audio recording, speech, transcript, interview, press release or credible news report showing where and when Akpabio made the alleged comment.

The controversy comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with social media playing an increasingly prominent role in political campaigns, commentary and the dissemination of claims about politicians.

The alleged statement has attracted particular attention because of its reference to Northern Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 2027 presidential election, potentially giving the claim a strong regional and political dimension.

A review by FactWatch also found no credible evidence that Akpabio made the alleged statement. The fact-checking platform reported that it could not establish the quotation through an authentic speech, recording or credible contemporary news report.

Akpabio’s latest action therefore shifts the matter from a social media controversy to a formal request for a DSS investigation into the origin and circulation of the disputed material.

The Senate President’s office wants investigators to establish whether the graphic was deliberately fabricated, who produced it, how it was distributed and whether there was any coordinated effort behind its circulation.

The petition also seeks appropriate action against anyone found to have deliberately created or disseminated the material in violation of Nigerian law.

For now, Akpabio maintains that he did not make the alleged anti-North statement, while the people identified in the petition remain persons of interest and have not been established as guilty of any offence.

The outcome of any investigation by the DSS will determine the origin of the disputed graphic and whether anyone will face further legal action over its alleged creation or dissemination.

Akpabio Denies Anti-North Remark, Petitions DSS Over Viral Graphic

Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a fake document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.

The arrest followed an investigation launched after OPay Digital Services Limited petitioned the police over the fraudulent document, which circulated widely on social media and caused concerns among some customers.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.

Iniedu said the police received a formal petition from OPay on August 31, 2026, through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

According to him, the company requested an urgent investigation to identify, trace and apprehend those responsible for creating and circulating what it described as a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication from OPay.

Following the petition, the National Cybercrime Centre deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and establish its source.

The police said the forensic investigation traced the material to a post on an X account identified as @haifah_er_abba, which was allegedly registered and operated by Abubakar.

Police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026.

The suspect was identified as a 27-year-old graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The investigation centres on a fabricated document titled “Official Note”, which falsely claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and account-related services indefinitely from September 1, 2026.

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The fake notice reportedly urged customers to withdraw or transfer their funds ahead of the purported shutdown, potentially creating panic among users of the digital financial services platform.

OPay moved quickly to dismiss the claim, assuring customers that the company had no plan to shut down its operations.

The fintech company described the purported shutdown notice as completely false and urged customers to disregard the information, stressing that its services remained fully operational.

OPay also highlighted several inconsistencies in the document as evidence that it was not an authentic company communication.

Among the discrepancies were the use of an outdated OPay logo, a misspelling of the company’s name and a layout that differed from the format used in its official communications.

The company subsequently escalated the matter to security agencies, confirming that it was working with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to identify the source of the false information and those involved in its circulation.

OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had also warned that individuals who deliberately disseminated false information about the company could face legal consequences.

The company said the false publication had the potential to cause unnecessary alarm among customers and negatively affect its business and reputation.

The police investigation has now led to the arrest of Abubakar, with the NPF-NCCC saying the case highlights the growing threat posed by digitally fabricated information.

The Force said false information involving financial institutions and fintech companies could have serious consequences, including public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage.

The police therefore urged Nigerians to exercise caution before sharing information obtained from social media, particularly claims concerning banks, fintech companies, government agencies and other critical institutions.

The NPF-NCCC advised members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before acting on or reposting it online.

The police said the investigation was still ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would face prosecution after the conclusion of the investigation.

The development comes after OPay continued its operations beyond the September 1 date mentioned in the fake notice, further confirming that the purported OPay shutdown was not genuine.

Customers have consequently been advised to rely on OPay’s verified communication channels for information concerning its services and operations.

Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice