The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Nigeria Police Force and the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) over the alleged delay in investigating petitions concerning alleged cybercrime, unlawful interception of private communications and data protection breaches involving officials of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, expressed concern that more than a year after the petitions were submitted, neither the police nor the NDPC had publicly disclosed the status of their investigations.
According to the rights group, the petitions were submitted on July 1, 2025, by the Publisher of PRNigeria, Alhaji Yushau A. Shuaib, who alleged that his private digital correspondence and those of his organisation were unlawfully accessed, intercepted and used during disciplinary proceedings at NIPSS without a court order or other lawful authorisation.
The petitions reportedly named Barrister Nima Salman Mann, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha and Professor Elias Wahab as individuals allegedly connected to the matter.
HURIWA said the allegations, if established through proper investigation, could amount to violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and other relevant cybersecurity laws, with wider implications for privacy rights, media source confidentiality, institutional data governance and public confidence in government institutions.
The organisation called on the NDPC, led by its National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to clarify the status of the petition, disclose any interim findings and explain measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in public institutions.
HURIWA also urged Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to direct the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to expedite investigation into the alleged cybercrime and invite all persons named in the petitions for questioning in accordance with due process.
The group expressed particular concern over what it described as the failure of the police to invite or question Rear Admiral Mustapha, whom it identified as central to allegations of intimidation, institutional bullying and unlawful interception of private correspondence.
HURIWA further raised concerns over a possible conflict of interest, alleging that Barrister Mann and Rear Admiral Mustapha are members of the National Institute (mni), alongside former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sadiq Idris Abubakar, who previously supervised the FCID.
It argued that any perception of preferential treatment arising from institutional affiliations could undermine public confidence in law enforcement and the principle of equality before the law.
The rights group recalled that similar concerns had been raised in a statement issued on April 6, 2026, over the alleged failure of authorities to act on the petition despite what it described as evidence submitted to investigators.
HURIWA also linked the renewed public interest in the matter to the recent publication of Shuaib’s memoir, MNI Versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying, which chronicles his experience during the 2025 Senior Executive Course at NIPSS and contains allegations of institutional intimidation.
However, HURIWA stressed that the publication of the memoir and the civil litigation reportedly arising from Shuaib’s withdrawal from the programme are separate from the alleged cybercrime and data protection issues.
“An elementary principle of law is that the existence of a civil suit does not bar criminal investigation or prosecution where criminal offences are alleged,” the group stated.
HURIWA said the matter had gone beyond an individual grievance and had become a test of Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing data protection and cybersecurity laws, particularly within public institutions.
The organisation warned that continued delay could fuel perceptions of selective justice and weaken public trust in the Nigeria Police Force and the country’s data protection regulatory framework.
It therefore urged both institutions to act promptly, transparently and in accordance with the law, reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the rule of law and stronger safeguards for digital privacy and cybersecurity in Nigeria.
