The Department Security Service (DSS) has withdrawn charges against OrderPaper and nine of its staff members, who were accused of publishing false information about a purported plot to remove Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The charges were dropped following a public apology from the media outlet on its website and other channels, along with interventions by key stakeholders on its behalf.
Confirming the development on Saturday, a source from the DSS framed the withdrawal of the charges as a demonstration of the secret police’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians receive accurate information.
The agency emphasized that its actions were intended to protect the public interest, not to suppress media freedom.
The source stated, “The withdrawal of charges against OrderPaper and its staff followed a widely publicized apology by the respondents on their official website and other media channels, along with interventions on their behalf by relevant stakeholders.
“This action demonstrates that the Service is focused on protecting the right of Nigerians to receive factual and truthful information for the greater good of all.”
The DSS had initially filed the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, October 23, led by A.A. Yusuf, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
OrderPaper, through its incorporated trustee, and several of its staff were accused of publishing false news, defamation, conspiracy, and spreading information intended to incite public fear.
The allegations stemmed from an October 16 report claiming that the SSS had laid siege to the National Assembly as part of a plot to remove Akpabio.
This publication was deemed false and in violation of Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, among other legal provisions. The defendants were also accused of defaming both the SSS and Akpabio, portraying the agency’s actions as unlawful.
Among the charged individuals were Oke Epia, Founder and Executive Director of OrderPaper, as well as senior staff such as Tony Okeke Ofodile, Edna Bill Ulaeto, and Elizabeth Atime, the author of the contested report. Other staff, including social media and administrative executives, were named as co-defendants.
The case escalated when DSS agents arrested Ulaeto on October 18 during a pre-dawn raid on her home.
Witnesses reported that the agents entered forcibly, detained her without prior notice or explanation, and intimidated neighbors, forcing them to delete any videos of the raid.
OrderPaper condemned the arrest, alleging that the agents tracked Ulaeto’s phone without a warrant and subjected her to violent treatment in front of her family.
Following public outcry, the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) intervened, securing Ulaeto’s release later that day.
OrderPaper maintained that the incident left its staff fearful and accused the DSS of breaching due process.
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