N5m Fine: Mailafia Apologised For Spreading Fake News – DSS

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia had apologised for using fake news to mislead the public, the Department of State Services (DSS)  said on Friday.

Spokesman of DSS, Peter Afunanya stated this in a statement on Friday.

Advertisement

Mailafia had, during an interview on a radio station, Nigeria Info, commented on the killings in Southern Kaduna and also claimed that he had interactions with Boko Haram terrorists, where they told him a Northern governor was the leader of the terrorist sect.

Nigeria Info was on Thursday, fined for alleged “unprofessional broadcast,” according to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) management.

Afunanya said it is condemnable that the former deputy governor of the CBN, who had apologised during his visit to the Plateau State command of the secret police for his statement, would, afterwards, announce to the world that he stood by his remarks.

He accused Mailafia of being part of a group that takes advantage of the security challenge in the country to cause “a total breakdown of law and order.”

Advertisement

The DSS spokesman recalled that “on 27th July 2020, the service alerted the nation about desperate efforts by some notable personalities to use their exalted positions; take advantage of developments in the country and cause a total breakdown of law and order. It also revealed that part of the orchestration was to engage in divisive acts as well as use inciting statements to pit one group against another.”

According to him, Nigerians may have no reason to doubt the DSS’ earlier pronouncement, going by the latest developments in the country.

‘’Dr Obadiah Mailafia’s recent outburst aimed at playing to the gallery and creating unnecessary tension is a confirmation of his group’s desperation to breach the peace,’’ he said.

‘’Mailafia, as a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and currently, a Directing Staff at Nigeria’s foremost Policy Research Institute, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, has unhindered access to government platforms. It is expected that he should be conversant with official information management protocols.

‘’But regrettably, he chose to cross the lines of decorum and conduct expected of a personality of his status. It is disappointing that he never took advantage of these to reach any of the security or related agencies to share the so-called information at his disposal. This, he has agreed to be a grievous error on his part. It, however, suggests his mischief and determination to use the fake news he spewed to incite the people under his control.’’

Advertisement

He warned those use political mobilisation to pursue group and subversive activities to desist from such causes.

He added that the service will not stand idly and watch “disgruntled and aggrieved elements” take laws into their hands and cause mayhem in the polity.

Furthermore, Afunanya noted that the service will not hesitate to, within the confines of the law, decisively deal with such persons or groups, no matter how highly-placed, that may wish to test its resolve.

All efforts by THE WHISTLER to get the reaction of Mailafia to the claim by the DSS proved abortive as he did not pick several calls to his telephone line or reply to text message at the time of filing this report.

DSS Spokesman did not also pick several calls to his phone line on why the service has not taken action against Mailafia since the service claimed he apologised for spreading fake news.

Leave a comment

Advertisement