Renowned investigative journalists David Hundeyin and Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, the alleged owner of the X handle @pidomnigeria, are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, sedition, and unauthorized distribution of classified documents.
The Nigeria Police Force has named them as suspects, along with Michael Temidayo Alade, in a case that raises concerns about press freedom and national security.
According to the police statement, Hundeyin and Alade are Bristol’s accomplices in the illegal access and leaking of sensitive documents, which could jeopardize Nigeria’s security networks.
Tamunobifiri, the primary suspect, was arrested on August 5 and has been in police custody since then. “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,” police said.
However, Bristol has denied any involvement with the anonymous Twitter handle @pidomnigeria, stating in a written police statement, “I do not know any name called PidomNigeria. I do not have any association or connection whatsoever with the aforementioned name.”
Hundeyin, a vocal critic of the government, and Tamunobifiri, allegedly the investigative journalist behind @pidomnigeria, have been instrumental in exposing corruption and human rights abuses in Nigeria. Their work has garnered international recognition, but now they face charges that could silence them.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
