The Coalition for Peace in Nigeria (COPIN), a non-profit Civil Society Organisation, has urged pertinent security agencies to take legal action against Jackson Ude for what they term as defamatory remarks targeting the Director General of the Department of State Services (DGSS), Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
In a strongly-worded statement signed by its National Coordinator, Pharmacist Emeka Akwuobi, COPIN demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Ude following allegations against Bichi, which, according to COPIN’s team of investigators, have been debunked as false.
The pan-Nigerian organisation pointed to empirical evidence discrediting Ude’s assertions, particularly his claims of potential misappropriation of subsidy grants meant for staff within the DGSS, categorically labeling them as baseless and unfounded.
Challenging Ude to an open debate, COPIN expressed perplexity at his reliance solely on Twitter (now X) for dissemination, raising questions about the credibility of his allegations.
COPIN’s statement highlighted the impeccable integrity and commitment of DG Bichi towards staff welfare, emphasizing that their continuous evaluations consistently place the Department of State Services (DSS) at the forefront in terms of performance among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Regarding Ude’s allegations, COPIN’s investigation revealed a stark truth: no ‘subsidy grants’ in any form have been disbursed for the Department of State Services personnel, rendering Ude’s claims baseless and misleading.
The statement addressed Ude and his associates, questioning the logic of looting funds that simply do not exist, and urged Nigerians to condemn such actions aimed at undermining diligent and patriotic leaders striving to elevate the nation.
COPIN’s impassioned plea to security agencies underscored the necessity of inviting Ude to substantiate his allegations against DG Bichi. Failure to provide credible evidence, according to COPIN, should result in legal repercussions to deter individuals engaged in slanderous campaigns against reputable figures.
This fervent call by COPIN signals a broader push for accountability and responsible conduct in public discourse, aiming to safeguard the integrity of leaders and the institutions they represent.