PIDOMNigeria is accused of leaking classified documents, fraud, sedition, and tax evasion.
The Nigeria Police Force has linked investigative journalist, David Hundeyin and Michael Alade to Isaac Bristol, identified by the authorities as PIDOMNigeria, in an alleged cybercrime case.
PIDOMNigeria is accused of leaking classified documents, fraud, sedition, and tax evasion.
During a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed SaharaReporters’ report that PIDOMNigeria's arrest followed a petition from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Accroding to Adejobi, when National Cybercrime Centre operatives raided a hotel where Bristol was staying, he resisted arrest.
Adejobi also accused Bristol destroying his phone and flushing it down the toilet.
“The operatives of the Nigerian Police National Cybercrime Center have apprehended an anonymous hacker in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, offences against the Official Secret Act, leakage of classified and restricted documents, acts likely to cause a breach of the public peace, sedition, fraud, and tax evasion,” Adejobi stated.
He further explained, “The discreet investigation was initiated to identify those responsible for the leakage, which led to the identification of Bristol Isaac, Michael Temidayo Alade, and David Hundeyin who are suspects in connection with the alleged crimes.”
Adejobi elaborated on the arrest, noting that Bristol had attempted to evade capture by locking himself in his hotel room, smashing his phone, and flushing it to destroy evidence.
He accused Isaac Bristol of also refusing to divulge his phone’s password, thus obstructing the investigation.
The police spokesperson claimed that Isaac Bristol was found to have raised funds anonymously to support cyber terrorism and related offences, as demonstrated by forensic analysis of his crypto wallet transactions.
“The Inspector General of Police, IG Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the commitment of the force to maintaining peace and also reiterated that the Nigerian police force remains vigilant to take strict and severe action against any individual or group threatening the country’s stability, ensuring they face the full force of the law,” Adejobi added.
According to him, investigations also uncovered that Isaac had illegally accessed and leaked sensitive police documents, including directives from the Office of the Inspector General of Police.
“The complaints filed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation alleged that an anonymous blogger using the Twitter handle at PIDOM Nigeria published and distributed a restricted document on a sensitive matter of national security,” Adejobi said.
According to him, the arrest of Bristol is aimed at safeguarding national security and upholding public order.
Adejobi confirmed that efforts were ongoing to trace Hundeyin and Alade.
“I’m sure they are working assiduously to see how they can get them. Perhaps they must have sent an invitation letter to them. Or they must have contacted them one way or the other. I don’t know the plan the team has,” Adejobi noted.