Jackson Ude is a Nigerian blogger and publisher of Point-Blank News. He is a graduate of the City University New York and a self-acclaimed Global Peace Ambassador, Strategic Communication expert, Investigative Journalist, and Hunter of Corrupt Politicians in Nigeria. On Wednesday, the 8th of July, Ude became best known for sending out a barrage of tweets which levelled several allegations on the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The US-based Nigerian blogger, cited the ongoing investigation of former EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu, as the basis of his claims. Ranging from Embezzlement to Nepotism, the accusations levelled by Jackson Ude are as follows

• Nepotism: Ude claims the current Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olukoyede Olanipekun worked for in Vice President Osinbajo’s chambers in Lagos. Once Osinbajo became VP, he moved Olanipekun to the EFCC as Ibrahim Magu’s Chief of Staff and later Secretary of EFCC.

• Bribery: Ude also raised the embattled EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu’s confession to the investigative panel. He claims that Magu admitted to remitting N 4 billion to VP Osinbajo during President Buhari most recent medical trip to the UK.

• Embezzlement: Furthermore, the blogger launched an inquisition to the source of funds which the VP’s daughter, Kiki Osinbajo, used in acquiring the N800 million property for her fashion house. Thus, insinuating that the funds to launch said venture was embezzled by her father, the Vice President. 

• Misappropriation of Funds: Referencing one 2018 article reporting the approval of N5.8 billion for the North-East Intervention Fund, another inquisition was directed towards the whereabouts of the approved fund. The article highlighted an indictment on the VP concerning his illegal approval of the fund and the mismanagement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

• Fraud: Citing another article on the investigations into Ibrahim Magu, Ude alleged an alliance between Magu and VP Osinbajo in the disappearance of seven oil ships. He claimed that the ships loaded with crude oil ended up in Tank Farms in Qingdao, China. The ships were then sold for over 800 million naira and the money shared by few persons.

In response to these allegations, the Office of the Vice President issued a petition titled “Criminal Defamation of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), GCON by Jackson Ude”, authored on the VP’s behalf by his lawyer, Bayo Osipitan. The petition was addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, demanding a thorough investigation of Jackson Ude. The investigation is to be carried out with the intent to prosecute Ude for criminal defamation. The statement added that the vice president would, of course, not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny. On the other hand, Jackson Ude retorted that the Vice president should first resign before suing him so as to avoid manipulating state resources in the legal battle.