The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PRNigeria, Yushau A. Shuaib, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, over alleged cybercrime and breach of digital rights involving senior officials of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
In a petition dated July 1, 2025, and addressed to the IGP with attention to the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Shuaib called for a full investigation into what he described as unauthorized access to a private editorial email belonging to PRNigeria; a media platform renowned for national security reporting and fact-checking.
According to the petition, Shuaib was a participant in the NIPSS Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) before what he described as his “questionable and vindictive” withdrawal from the programme.
He narrated that during a meeting with Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha and Professor Elias Wahab, both directing staff of NIPSS he was informed of a pending query.
To his shock, the subsequent official query, issued on behalf of the Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, contained an attachment: a confidential PRNigeria email titled “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective.”
“This email was never sent to, copied to, or shared with any NIPSS official.
“Its appearance in an internal disciplinary proceeding indicates an alarming breach of digital privacy and suggests unauthorized surveillance.” Shuaib stated.
Shuaib warned that the breach threatens PRNigeria’s editorial independence and endangers the safety of its anonymous sources.
He cited potential violations of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), referencing Section 24, which prohibits the unlawful interception of electronic communications.
Shuaib disclosed that he is in possession of both the original email and the official NIPSS query where it was cited and pledged full cooperation with police investigators.
He also suggested that forensic analysis of the incident could reveal digital footprints identifying those responsible for the intrusion.
The petition urged the police to invite Barrister Mann, Rear Admiral Mustapha, and Professor Wahab for questioning, and to conduct an impartial investigation into the unauthorized access and use of PRNigeria’s internal email system.
Shuaib also called for the identification and prosecution of any officials found culpable, as well as the implementation of safeguards to protect digital privacy in public institutions.
“I want you to use your good office to cause a dispassionate investigation into my complaint and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full wrath of the law,” Shuaib concluded.
