Police Identify David Hundeyin And Michael Alade As Accomplices In PIDOM Charges

The Nigeria Police Force has accused journalist David Hundeyin and another person, Michael Alade, of being involved with Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, also known as PIDOM.

PIDOM, who is suspected of running the X handle @pidomnigeria, is under investigation for criminal conspiracy, sedition, and illegally distributing classified documents.

A statement from Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said am investigation into the leak of a classified document related to national security led to the identification of David Hundeyin and Michael Alade as suspects alongside PIDOM.

The statement said, “The principal suspect, Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri was apprehended at a hotel in Port Harcourt on Saturday, 5th August 2024, by NPF-NCCC detectives, and in an attempt to resist arrest, the suspect locked himself in a hotel room, smashed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet in an effort to destroy evidence.

“He also refused to surrender his phone’s password, claiming he had forgotten it, thereby concealing information. Subsequent investigations, after his arrest, revealed several suspicious activities between the principal suspect and his accomplices.

“Investigations also revealed that the suspect was responsible for leaking a sensitive restricted document generated from the office of the President to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation. The suspect had also illegally accessed police-restricted data and posted directives from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, and many other restricted documents with the aim of jeopardizing the security network in Nigeria.

“It has also been established that the suspect also raised funds through anonymous means to sponsor cyberterrorism and other related crimes. Evidence of this was derived after critical forensic analysis of the suspect’s crypto wallet transactions.”

Earlier, PIDOM was arriagned for money laundering, cybercrime, and illegally obtaining and spreading classified documents. He appeared in court before Justice Emeka Nwite on nine counts and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The case has been adjourned to September 23, 2024, for a ruling on his bail application, and PIDOM has been ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre.