HURIWA Faults Police, NDPC Over Delay in Probe of Alleged NIPSS Data Breach

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Nigeria Police Force and the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) over what it described as prolonged delay in investigating petitions alleging cybercrime, unlawful interception of private communications and data protection violations involving officials of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said more than a year after the petitions were submitted, neither the police nor the NDPC had publicly communicated the status of their investigations or taken visible steps to address the allegations.

According to the group, the petitions were submitted on July 1, 2025, by PRNigeria Publisher, Alhaji Yushau A. Shuaib, who alleged that his private digital correspondence and that of his organisation were accessed, intercepted and used without lawful authorisation during disciplinary proceedings at NIPSS.

HURIWA said the petition named Barrister Nima Salman Mann, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha and Professor Elias Wahab as individuals allegedly linked to the incident.

The rights group said the allegations, if established through proper investigation, could constitute violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and other relevant cybersecurity laws, with wider implications for privacy rights, media source confidentiality and data governance in public institutions.

HURIWA therefore 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.

The association also urged Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to direct the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to expedite its investigation into the alleged cybercrime.

HURIWA recalled that similar concerns were raised in April 2026 over the alleged delay in acting on the petition, despite what it described as credible evidence submitted to investigators.

It alleged that the police had yet to invite or question those named in the petition, particularly Rear Admiral Mustapha, whom it described as central to allegations of intimidation, institutional bullying and unlawful interception of private correspondence.

The organisation further expressed concern over a possible conflict of interest, alleging that Mann and Mustapha are members of the National Institute (mni), alongside former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sadiq Idris Abubakar, who previously supervised the FCID.

HURIWA 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 group also referenced Shuaib’s recently published memoir, MNI Versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying, which recounts his experience during the 2025 Senior Executive Course at NIPSS and contains allegations of institutional intimidation.

However, HURIWA stressed that the memoir and the ongoing controversy surrounding Shuaib’s withdrawal from the programme are separate from the alleged cybercrime and data protection violations, which it said require independent investigation.

“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 urged the police to invite all individuals named in the petitions for questioning in accordance with due process, while calling on the NDPC to exercise its statutory mandate by investigating the alleged data protection violations promptly and transparently.

The association warned that continued inaction could fuel perceptions of selective justice and weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s law enforcement and data protection institutions.

It reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, the rule of law, digital privacy and stronger cybersecurity safeguards in Nigeria.