By Joyce Ekeh
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Nigeria Police Force and the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to clarify the status of petitions alleging unauthorised access to private communications and possible data protection violations linked to proceedings at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
In a press statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the petitions, submitted on July 1, 2025, had yet to receive a publicly communicated outcome.
According to the group, the petitions were filed by PRNigeria Publisher, Yushau A. Shuaib, who alleged that his private digital correspondence and that of his organisation were accessed, intercepted or used without lawful authorisation during disciplinary proceedings at NIPSS.
HURIWA said the allegations involved Barrister Nima Salman Mann, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha and Professor Elias Wahab, stressing that the claims required proper investigation rather than being treated as established facts.
The group said the allegations, if substantiated, could raise issues under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and relevant cybersecurity laws.
HURIWA therefore called on the NDPC, led by its National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to provide an update on the petition and explain any measures being taken in response.
It also urged Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to direct the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to conclude its investigation into the alleged cyber-related offences.
“We urge the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations independently, transparently and in accordance with due process,” HURIWA said.
The group also raised concerns about the length of time taken to address the petitions, arguing that prolonged silence could affect public confidence in Nigeria’s data protection and law enforcement institutions.
HURIWA referred to an earlier statement issued in April 2026 in which it had raised similar concerns over the progress of the petitions.
The association further noted that Shuaib’s recently published memoir, MNI Versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying, has renewed public discussion about his experience during the 2025 Senior Executive Course at NIPSS.
However, HURIWA stressed that the allegations concerning access to private communications and data protection should be considered separately from the dispute surrounding Shuaib’s withdrawal from the programme.
It also argued that the existence of civil litigation over the matter should not, in itself, prevent authorities from examining any separate allegations of criminal conduct.
HURIWA called for all relevant parties to be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations and urged the police and NDPC to handle the matter in line with applicable laws and due process.
The group said a transparent resolution of the petitions would help strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s data protection regime and institutional accountability.
