A socio-political group, the One Nigeria Movement (ONM), has issued a warning to Nigerians to remain vigilant against blackmailers, extortionists, and impersonators posing as investigative journalists and activists.
The ONM characterized self-proclaimed investigative journalist Jackson Ude as an impersonator and emphasized the urgent need to prevent individuals like him from further deceiving and extorting money from unsuspecting Nigerians.
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, signed by its Convener General, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro, and Secretary, Babatunde Aliyu, the ONM disputed Ude’s claims of having served as a Special Assistant on Media or Director of Strategy and Communication to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group challenged Ude to produce an appointment letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to validate his assertions.
“It is crucial to assess the character and integrity of an individual before ascribing any credibility to their statements. We view fraudsters and pathological liars for what they truly are,” ONM stated.
Ude and his associates at Pointblanknews have repeatedly claimed to be former aides to President Jonathan. This assertion is not only false but profoundly questionable. All legitimate aides were issued appointment letters signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
During President Jonathan’s administration, three officials held roles within the Public Affairs department: Dr. Doyin Okupe (Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Head of Department), Dr. Olusanya Awosan (Special Assistant on Public Relations), and Mallam Nasir Zaharaden (Special Assistant on Public Affairs).
It was Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode who initially introduced Jackson Ude’s Pointblanknews as a resource the Public Affairs department could use to promote the government’s activities. However, less than two months after their engagement, Ude and his colleagues began to leverage their association for blackmailing senior government officials to extort money, reaching even Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the then Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
These criminal acts resulted in the termination of Pointblanknews’s contract with the office, leading to Ude and his colleague being barred from access.
So, how did he claim to be a former aide to President Jonathan? Should we consider reporters from media organizations covering the State House as aides to the President?
The ONM further highlighted Ude’s documented history of blackmail, recalling his unsuccessful attempt to extort money from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by disseminating false information about her.
Okonjo-Iweala filed a N10 billion libel lawsuit against Ude. After a six-year legal battle, the Federal High Court ordered him and Pointblanknews to pay a total of N200 million in damages to her. Justice Chizoba N. Oji’s ruling in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/2602/12 also included a perpetual injunction preventing Ude, Churchill Umoren, and their platform from defaming Dr. Okonjo-Iweala in the future.
In 2012, Ude used Pointblanknews to publish a baseless story claiming that Okonjo-Iweala had purchased a N1.2 billion mansion in Maitama, Abuja, and falsely accused her of pocketing $2 billion in commission in a debt buy-back deal during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
This story, like many others from Ude, was untrue. The actual owner of the property, Mr. Fabian Nwaora, denied selling any property to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
In its judgment, the court imposed general damages of N50 million and exemplary damages of N150 million against the defendants jointly and severally.
