4th September, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said its investigation has linked leakage of government documents to whistleblower, Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri also known as PIDOM Michael Temidayo Alade, and investigative journalist, David Hundeyin.
The Police, at a press briefing addressed by the Force Public Relations Officers, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Tuesday said investigation of the leakage of the official documents was initiated following complaint by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (OSGF).
According to the Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, the OSGF had alleged alleged that an anonymous blogger was using its X handle, @pidomnigeria to publish and distribute restricted documents on sensitive matter of national security.
He added that discrete investigation initiated by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) to identify those responsible for the leakage led to the identification of Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, Michael Temidayo Alade, and David Hundeyin, as suspects.
According to the police spokesperson, Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri (PIDOM) was apprehended at a hotel in Port Harcourt on Saturday, 5th August 2024, by NPF-NCCC detectives.
He, however said in an attempt to resist arrest and destroy evidence, PIDOM locked himself in a hotel room, smashed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet.
He also claimed that the suspect refused to surrender his phone’s password, claiming he had forgotten it, thereby concealing information.
“Subsequent investigations, after his arrest, revealed several suspicious activities between the principal suspect and his accomplices. Investigations also revealed that the suspect was responsible for leaking a sensitive restricted document generated from the office of the President to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation.
“The suspect had also illegally accessed police-restricted data and posted directives from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, and many other restricted documents with the aim of jeopardizing the security network in Nigeria. It has also been established that the suspect also raised funds through anonymous means to sponsor cyberterrorism and other related crimes. Evidence of this was derived after critical forensic analysis of the suspect’s crypto wallet transactions.
The police spokesperson affirmed that PIDOM was arrested to protect national security, maintain public order, identify and apprehend those engaged in criminal activities threatening the stability of the nation in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, offences against the Official Secrets Act, leakage of classified ‘restricted’ documents, acts likely to cause breach of public peace, sedition, fraud, and tax evasion.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD. NPM., has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to maintaining peace and also reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remains vigilant to take swift and severe action against any individual or group threatening the country’s stability, ensuring they face the full force of the law.
“The IGP assures members of the public that further investigations will continue to uncover all facets of this conspiracy. The suspect has however been charged to court and remanded in prison custody,” the statement indicated.
