Jackson Ude
By Akeem Atoyebi
Since some blogs published reports that the Nigerian Army placed Jackson Ude, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on its most wanted list, many have been wondering whether the reports are genuine or fake.
According to the report, Ude is being accused of planning a mutiny, overthrowing the democratically elected government, and inciting anarchy.
Analysts believe that the declaration might not be unconnected with a recent publication declaring the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja dead and calling for a military coup in the country.
Ude’s alleged crimes include sponsoring bandits and Boko Haram, creating unrest in the region, and stealing gold from the Central Bank of Libya, currently under investigation by the Libyan government all of which the Ude has denied.
The purported Army’s declaration though highlights Ude’s actions as a significant threat to national security, fueling insecurity and betraying the trust of millions of Nigerians striving for peace, but many analysts are worried that the army publication was not signed, raising significant question as to the authenticity of it, given the long standing tradition of military communication.
There are concerns that it might have emanated from a faceless people that used the insignia of the army to declare him wanted.
Although, there are reports that Ude’s lawyer has commenced moves to write the military authorities to confirm the authenticity of the mugshot and possibly take legal action against the peddlers of the mugshot.
If indeed it emanated from the Army, many legal minds are saying the right and proper thing to do is to file a legal action against him for defamation or cyberstaking and not to declare him wanted for writing a story and promoting same on Twitter. To declare a Journalist wanted for writing a story is ill- conceived and not proper.
Ude has released a statement indicating that the Defence minister has distanced himself from report purporting to have declared pUde wanted for treason.
“Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has told me he is not aware I have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army or any other armed forces in Nigeria.
“As I began plans to brief my lawyers here in the United States to begin the process of suing the Federal Government of Nigeria, Defence Headquarters, Minister of Defence, Minister of State, Defence and outlets that published my mugshot and flyer purportedly from the Army alleging I have been declared wanted, I reached out to the senior Defence Minister, who told me he is unaware of such.
“A Major in the Legal Department of the Army Headquarters also debunked the mugshot and said “this cannot be NA publication. Such can only be routed through the DHQ”
“How then would someone like me be declared wanted for serious crimes such as terrorism, coup, anarchy, etc, and a Defence Minister not aware?
“Well, the answer confirms that a serving Minister is the one who has raised the bar of impunity, using his propaganda machineries to illegally use Army logo, produce my mugshot and flyer declaring me wanted. His footprints are all over it?”
It must be noted that in spite of his sojourn in the US, Ude continues to write critique of the preceding and current administrations ,but it’s believed that the authorities are not comfortable with his criticism, as they say he continues to make “unfounded” claims against the government and its officials on Twitter.
There are unsubstantiated allegations that the veteran journalist is being bankrolled by a governor from the northwest, collaborating with retired former generals.
This alleged backing raises concerns about the extent of Ude’s influence.
How far this allegations can go in the law court remains to be seen, as many people interviewed believed Ude is being attacked on account of his vibrancy and ability to expose corrupt Nigerians and the authorities are not comfortable with this.
The Nigerian Army’s declaration underscores the severity of Ude’s alleged offenses and the need for swift action to prevent further instability in the region
