Umaru Yar’adua Regime Launches $5 Million Online War
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 15:38 Sahara Reporters, New York E-mail | Print | PDF
Saharareporters has learned that the Umaru Yar’adua regime has budgeted $5 million in an elaborate effort to create and sponsor “friendly,” pro-government websites.

Details gathered during a two-week investigation found that the bogus “rebranding project” designed by Information Minister Dora Akunyili was taking a turn into a scheme to undermine top foreign-based Nigerian websites and blogs critical of the Nigerian leadership. Several sources within the Yar’adua government told our correspondents that Saharareporters.com was at the top of the regime’s “targets.” In the words of one security source, “The whole idea is to do everything to ensure that websites like yours and others are stopped from taking root in Nigeria.”


Three security sources, who are privy to the plan, revealed that Yar’adua last week approved the covert operation to stop websites and bloggers from influencing public opinion in Nigeria. The president's Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Kurfi will source the funds for the operations.

A major plank of the Yar’adua regime’s “anti-bloggers project “ is to fund the setting up of new websites designed to deceive unsuspecting readers with “patriotic rhetoric.”

“The government has decided to mobilize a few individuals to set up online forums that promise to extend the frontiers of online journalism,” said a security source. He added that, in the initial stages, these websites would release a few detailed and seemingly credible stories calculated to garner credibility for them as well as a wide readership. “But the ultimate objective is to fully divert the websites to the task of acting as attack dogs for the government’s online critics,” said a source. She added that the government plans to fund and roll out about 50 of such new websites between now and the beginning of serious campaigns for the next round of elections scheduled for 2011. “The idea is to use these websites to counter negative publicity trailing the Yar’adua regime preparatory to the 2011 elections,” said the source. She said Yar’adua’s handlers were aware that negative publicity linked to poor performance would affect his chances of winning the election due.

“The amount of $5 million is going into the project to create the impression that the president is popular among Nigerians,” said one of them. He added that part of the plan was to recruit 700 Nigerians at home and abroad to counter a growing critical blogging culture that is taking the Nigerian nation by storm and effectively replacing the mainstream local media.

We learnt that the government has already enlisted more than 200 people in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, amongst them local journalists, to register on popular Nigerian listservs, chatrooms, comments sections and website forums to counter negative publications against the Nigerian authorities by presenting opinions that appear neutral and demanding “objectivity in the reports of bloggers.”

Our sources disclosed that the paid commentators are given cyber café tickets as well as blogging allowances based on the number of comments they are able to make daily.

“The only good thing about this program is that it has provided a small source of income for many unemployed youths,” said one of our sources. He said many of the hired online writers stay overnight in cyber cafés and use various e-mail addresses and chat-room handles to make comments that defend the Yar’adua government against growing negative publicity or question the objectivity of websites and blogs that articulate widespread dissatisfaction by Nigerians who have found the internet as a free avenue to air their views.

One of our sources revealed that the Yar’adua government was persuaded to try this strategy of “hiring friendly online writers” after Akunyili was briefed that numerous state governments had long employed it.

Our sources said that such state governors as Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano, Akwa Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio and Ogun State’s Olugbenga Daniel are notorious for deploying “anti-bloggers” to counter negative reports in Internet chat-rooms and commentary sections of websites. Speaker Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives was also reported to use a well–funded anti-bloggers unit to counter negative publicity.

Our sources said numerous Nigerian PR consultants have also designed anti-blogging services that are marketed to an increasing clientele of politicians for a good fee. Some of the consultants regularly print out reports of their activities as proof of their effectiveness.

Human Rights Watch and other monitor groups have accused the Yar’adua regime of intolerance of free speech and undemocratic practices. In October and November 2008, security agents of the regime arrested and detained two US-based bloggers at the Lagos and Abuja international airports respectively. The State Security Service (SSS) keeps a list of so-called “internet warriors” who are supposed to be arrested and summarily detained whenever they are seen at any Nigerian airport or other point of entry into the country.

The regime also drew widespread local and international criticism when it closed down two television stations, African independent Television (AIT), and Lagos-based Channels TV for reporting “unfriendly stories.” Late last year, Yar’adua invoked an obsolete law dug up by Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa to sue Abuja–based the “Leadership” newspaper for alleged criminal libel.

A senior official in Yar’adua’s government also revealed that the regime encouraged Paul Orhii, an acolyte of Aondoakaa’s, to file libel lawsuits against Saharareporters. Last December, Orhii instituted a multi-million dollar libel suit against Saharareporters in Texas. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed as the director general of the Nigeria’s National Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC). The agency is mandated, among other duties, to combat the influx of fake drugs and other hazardous products into Nigeria.

A Federal District judge in Texas later threw out the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.

Shortly after the lawsuit in Texas was settled in favor of Saharareporters, Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, a Nigerian-born attorney based in the State of Maryland, sued Saharareporters for millions of dollars for alleged libel. Before filing the suit, Mr. Ugwuonye had written a letter to the Federal Government asking permission to sue Saharareporters, even though he claimed that confidential information pertaining to the Nigerian government could be divulged in the course of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is progressing, but Ugwuonye is resisting a motion by one of the defendants to subpoena the records related to the attorney’s work in the sale of properties owned by the Nigerian government in Maryland. Ugwuonye is claiming that the information contained in the transaction ledger sought by the defendant, Mobolaji Aluko, a Howard University professor, would put the Federal Government in bad light.

In addition, Ugwuonye has made several efforts to amend his original motion, but the Federal District judge denied his motion to enlarge the pool of Nigerian citizens who have engaged in discussions regarding the controversial sale of properties owned by the Nigerian embassy. Ugwuonye has also tried to expunge from his original motion allegations he made against the publisher of Saharareporters, Omoyele Sowore. He had alleged that an Abuja-based businessman believed to be Terry Waya bribed Sowore to write negative reports about former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.

In written correspondence with Saharareporters as well as telephone interviews, Alaibe denied ever retaining Mr. Ugwuonye to act as a solicitor.

The Maryland Attorney Grievances Commission once suspended Ugwuonye from the practice of law in three jurisdictions due to misconduct.

http://saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3024:umaru-yaradua-regime-launches-5-million-online-war-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

asha 80:

Umaru Yar’adua Regime Launches $5 Million Online War
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 15:38 Sahara Reporters, New York E-mail | Print | PDF
Saharareporters has learned that the Umaru Yar’adua regime has budgeted $5 million in an elaborate effort to create and sponsor “friendly,” pro-government websites.

Details gathered during a two-week investigation found that the bogus “rebranding project” designed by Information Minister Dora Akunyili was taking a turn into a scheme to undermine top foreign-based Nigerian websites and blogs critical of the Nigerian leadership. Several sources within the Yar’adua government told our correspondents that Saharareporters.com was at the top of the regime’s “targets.” In the words of one security source, “The whole idea is to do everything to ensure that websites like yours and others are stopped from taking root in Nigeria.”


Three security sources, who are privy to the plan, revealed that Yar’adua last week approved the covert operation to stop websites and bloggers from influencing public opinion in Nigeria. The president's Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Kurfi will source the funds for the operations.

A major plank of the Yar’adua regime’s “anti-bloggers project “ is to fund the setting up of new websites designed to deceive unsuspecting readers with “patriotic rhetoric.”

“The government has decided to mobilize a few individuals to set up online forums that promise to extend the frontiers of online journalism,” said a security source. He added that, in the initial stages, these websites would release a few detailed and seemingly credible stories calculated to garner credibility for them as well as a wide readership. “But the ultimate objective is to fully divert the websites to the task of acting as attack dogs for the government’s online critics,” said a source. She added that the government plans to fund and roll out about 50 of such new websites between now and the beginning of serious campaigns for the next round of elections scheduled for 2011. “The idea is to use these websites to counter negative publicity trailing the Yar’adua regime preparatory to the 2011 elections,” said the source. She said Yar’adua’s handlers were aware that negative publicity linked to poor performance would affect his chances of winning the election due.

“The amount of $5 million is going into the project to create the impression that the president is popular among Nigerians,” said one of them. He added that part of the plan was to recruit 700 Nigerians at home and abroad to counter a growing critical blogging culture that is taking the Nigerian nation by storm and effectively replacing the mainstream local media.

We learnt that the government has already enlisted more than 200 people in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, amongst them local journalists, to register on popular Nigerian listservs, chatrooms, comments sections and website forums to counter negative publications against the Nigerian authorities by presenting opinions that appear neutral and demanding “objectivity in the reports of bloggers.”

Our sources disclosed that the paid commentators are given cyber café tickets as well as blogging allowances based on the number of comments they are able to make daily.

“The only good thing about this program is that it has provided a small source of income for many unemployed youths,” said one of our sources. He said many of the hired online writers stay overnight in cyber cafés and use various e-mail addresses and chat-room handles to make comments that defend the Yar’adua government against growing negative publicity or question the objectivity of websites and blogs that articulate widespread dissatisfaction by Nigerians who have found the internet as a free avenue to air their views.

One of our sources revealed that the Yar’adua government was persuaded to try this strategy of “hiring friendly online writers” after Akunyili was briefed that numerous state governments had long employed it.

Our sources said that such state governors as Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano, Akwa Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio and Ogun State’s Olugbenga Daniel are notorious for deploying “anti-bloggers” to counter negative reports in Internet chat-rooms and commentary sections of websites. Speaker Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives was also reported to use a well–funded anti-bloggers unit to counter negative publicity.

Our sources said numerous Nigerian PR consultants have also designed anti-blogging services that are marketed to an increasing clientele of politicians for a good fee. Some of the consultants regularly print out reports of their activities as proof of their effectiveness.

Human Rights Watch and other monitor groups have accused the Yar’adua regime of intolerance of free speech and undemocratic practices. In October and November 2008, security agents of the regime arrested and detained two US-based bloggers at the Lagos and Abuja international airports respectively. The State Security Service (SSS) keeps a list of so-called “internet warriors” who are supposed to be arrested and summarily detained whenever they are seen at any Nigerian airport or other point of entry into the country.

The regime also drew widespread local and international criticism when it closed down two television stations, African independent Television (AIT), and Lagos-based Channels TV for reporting “unfriendly stories.” Late last year, Yar’adua invoked an obsolete law dug up by Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa to sue Abuja–based the “Leadership” newspaper for alleged criminal libel.

A senior official in Yar’adua’s government also revealed that the regime encouraged Paul Orhii, an acolyte of Aondoakaa’s, to file libel lawsuits against Saharareporters. Last December, Orhii instituted a multi-million dollar libel suit against Saharareporters in Texas. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed as the director general of the Nigeria’s National Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC). The agency is mandated, among other duties, to combat the influx of fake drugs and other hazardous products into Nigeria.

A Federal District judge in Texas later threw out the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.

Shortly after the lawsuit in Texas was settled in favor of Saharareporters, Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, a Nigerian-born attorney based in the State of Maryland, sued Saharareporters for millions of dollars for alleged libel. Before filing the suit, Mr. Ugwuonye had written a letter to the Federal Government asking permission to sue Saharareporters, even though he claimed that confidential information pertaining to the Nigerian government could be divulged in the course of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is progressing, but Ugwuonye is resisting a motion by one of the defendants to subpoena the records related to the attorney’s work in the sale of properties owned by the Nigerian government in Maryland. Ugwuonye is claiming that the information contained in the transaction ledger sought by the defendant, Mobolaji Aluko, a Howard University professor, would put the Federal Government in bad light.

In addition, Ugwuonye has made several efforts to amend his original motion, but the Federal District judge denied his motion to enlarge the pool of Nigerian citizens who have engaged in discussions regarding the controversial sale of properties owned by the Nigerian embassy. Ugwuonye has also tried to expunge from his original motion allegations he made against the publisher of Saharareporters, Omoyele Sowore. He had alleged that an Abuja-based businessman believed to be Terry Waya bribed Sowore to write negative reports about former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.

In written correspondence with Saharareporters as well as telephone interviews, Alaibe denied ever retaining Mr. Ugwuonye to act as a solicitor.

The Maryland Attorney Grievances Commission once suspended Ugwuonye from the practice of law in three jurisdictions due to misconduct.

http://saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3024:umaru-yaradua-regime-launches-5-million-online-war-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Gbawe:

Yar Adua , perhaps because he is undeserving of his position, is hugely insecure to the extent that he will do anything to silence legitimate criticism of his clueless leadership of Nigeria.Yar Adua's Government , at his behest , has been detaining bloggers and shutting down Newspapers in ways the worst Military dictator would be proud of !!!! With Madam rebranding now on board this attempt at neutralising the efficacy of Saharareporters et al is no surpise at all. Mr President,  you are doomed to go down in history as a poor leader and no amount of 'rebranding' and/or spin will change that !!!!

Ibime:

Im gonna put my tender in to create one of these websites.

Our sources disclosed that the paid commentators are given cyber café tickets as well as blogging allowances based on the number of comments they are able to make daily

Dis Guy:

politicians and their cyber battle

kaboninc:

I do not believe this story.

It was Dele Momodu that wrote on his ‘The Search for own Obama’ Series that:

“The mood of the Nigerian nation today will be the waterloo of our ruling elites. The search for our own Obama has already started as a battle on cyberspace. It is amazing how Nigerians worldwide are warming up for the battle ahead. They are determined to cause a bloodless revolution in their own country, and demonstrate that we are no donkeys. They are networking like never before, and discussing issues that can move us forward. The economic meltdown has been a blessing in disguise. Many Nigerians abroad now want to return home. But there is no good home waiting to embrace them. Our leaders think Nigeria will never change. I laugh. Since they are incapable of gauging this mood, their cataclysmic fall will reverberate across the world. It would remain one of the greatest miracles of this century. But it shall come to pass”.

One Anambra Legislator simply told me: 2010 is around the corner, so what do you expect? Evidently, Like the hardened careerist politicians they are, the Nigerian Politician is determined to manipulate and influence the cyber battles, they don’t want to be

China has the great firewall of China to block unfriendly sites from its citizens, and This Nigerian government is spending 5 million dollars on a bunch of yahoos who are barely literate. Fourth, like hell all these money will be spent on this program without being chopped up until its nothing but 500 dollars to pay some idiot, LItmus, to post on forums such as this.

walata44:



Are advocating this type of firewall in Nigeria or what is your point?

Have Sued SSS        
Written by Jonathan Elendu    
Thursday, 15 January 2009  

Gen. Sarki Muktar (rtd) - leftMonday afternoon this week, my lawyer, Ichie Chuks Muoma SAN, filed a lawsuit against the State Security Service (SSS), the Director General of the SSS, and the Attorney General of the Federation.  Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/10/09 was filed at the Abuja Federal High Court. The suit is seeking among other things, the immediate release of my international passport, my cell phones, my Toshiba notebook, and my flash drives.
The suit is also asking the Court to award me damages of N1billion. In addition we are asking the Court to declare my detention illegal and to restrain the SSS, other agents of the Nigerian government from further imprisoning me without due process.

I am told that Emeka Asiwe, the publisher of HuHuOnline.com, through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has also filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government. Emeka was detained on arrival from the United States while I was in the custody of the SSS. Since our release from SSS custody they have held on to our international travel documents.

Loss of freedom to move about and associate with any person of your choice is one of the gravest harms that can be done to anybody. After the excitement of my release from detention had faded it dawned on me that I was put in a bigger prison. I was not allowed to go back to my base in the United States to see my family, friends and colleagues. I missed covering the American elections in 2008. I was not home for Christmas and New Year, and it looks like I will not be in the United States for the inauguration of the first black president in the history of the United States. I did not even cover the Ghana presidential elections!

These are personal and professional loses to me. I have also lost my ability to travel to chase/investigate stories, and engage in other businesses I do to earn income.

I know that some people will not like the idea of my suing some agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria. To those people I ask: what could I have done? How do I get my life back? Should I have remained in this great prison and continue a life of uncertainty?

Efforts were made by my lawyer and other individuals to resolve this issue so that we do not take the step of suing the government. The last time my attorney, Ugo Muoma, met with officials of the SSS he was told to go to court since we had already written a letter opining that we may resort to legal action to seek redress.

Some persons who made contacts with officials of the SSS and even the director general of the SSS were told that I was detained and my travel documents are being held on to because I blackmail several governors. They also claimed that they were still investigating me. This would have been a very funny story except that it is my life and reputation that such highly placed members of the Federal Government, including the director general of the SSS, are toying with. I understand that one of the people who tried to intercede on my behalf offered to sign away all his assets if SSS can prove their allegations against me. Ironically, he is one of those I am supposed to have blackmailed. I know I am a black male but I have never blackmailed anybody in my life. I challenge the SSS, Police, or any other agent of the Nigerian government to charge and sustain such a charge against me.

I have also been told that the National Security Adviser to the President, Gen. Sarki Muktar is using me and members of the Nigerian media to win the hearts of the president and the first lady. Several people have confirmed this to me. According to this story, the government was advised by its lawyers to leave journalists “alone.” However, Gen. Muktar, the NSA insisted that journalists “should be taught some lessons.” This was done to ingratiate himself with the first family, especially Turai Yar’Adua who is said to be an avid consumer of Internet news.

Gen. Muktar, who was described by former colleagues as “incompetent and deadly” is said to run his office like a big branch of a commercial bank with heavy sums of money moving in and out on a daily basis. I have never met Gen. Muktar but it is very disheartening that a highly trained and respected general of the Nigerian Army would take it upon himself to ruin my life.

I have been told several times that I am a marked man. While I love and cherish life, my family and friends, I cannot hide my head in the sand for fear of being ‘roped’ into something on frivolous charges. The Nigerian government knows where I sleep every night. If they succeed in “wasting” me like they have threatened several times, so be it. I shall not live in fear of anybody or institution.  

There is no doubt in my mind that I have taken the best line of action available to me. I have practiced my trade the best way I know. I may not get it right all the time but it is not because I desire to destroy anybody. I said the same thing to the SSS during my interrogations.

The ball has shifted to the judiciary. We await the result. I may not be able to comment further on this matter once it starts in court. I shall forever remain grateful to those who have supported me since my arrest in October of 2008. My family has been through hell. My friends have not faired better. Yet, I have been comforted by their unflinching resolve to stand by me. Not once have I been advised by a close friend or relative to ‘give in.’ I shall not!

However, I must register my disappointment with our elected officials, especially my representative in the House of Representatives, the Senator representing my senatorial zone, House and Senate leadership and former media practitioners who are now members of the National Assembly. They have remained silent in the face of unwarranted persecution of the media in a so-called democracy. Even those who were once persecuted by the Nigerian government are now blinded by the importance of the office they occupy. They should all hide their heads in shame.

Email: jelendu@aol.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

http://elendureports.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=738&Itemid=33

nuzo:

@Topic

Why are people surprised by this move?
Though the idea sounds new, it's already being carried out by tpiah, i_laugh and his numerous online IDs. Who doesnt know that these guys are working for the government?

The only difference is that with $5 mil, we will have more of these fake "patriots".

nuzo:

@Topic

Why are people surprised by this move?
Though the idea sounds new, it's already being carried out by tpiah, i_laugh and his numerous online IDs. Who doesnt know that these guys are working for the government?

The only difference is that with $5 mil, we will have more of these fake "patriots".