Top NIPSS officials, including new FOC Western Naval Command, ‘ignore’ police cybercrime probe

Two months after a formal petition was filed, three high-ranking officials of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) are reportedly refusing to honour a police invitation for questioning over alleged cybercrime, even as one of the prime suspects, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, was recently deployed to a sensitive strategic military post in Lagos.

SolaceBase reports that the controversy surrounds a petition filed by Yushau A. Shuaib, Founder and CEO of PRNigeria, alleging that NIPSS officials unlawfully intercepted a private editorial email belonging to his media platform.

The petition, filed on July 1, 2025, calls for an investigation into the alleged breach of digital privacy and unlawful system access.

Shuaib, a former participant in NIPSS’s Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) before his withdrawal, detailed how a private internal editorial email mysteriously appeared as an attachment in an official query issued to him by NIPSS officials.

He asserted that the email was never shared with NIPSS, and its appearance in an internal disciplinary proceeding indicates an “alarming breach of digital privacy” that potentially violates Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. He warned that the breach threatens PRNigeria’s editorial independence and endangers the anonymity of its trusted security sources.

Read Also: Cybercrime Allegation: PRNigeria petitions police against NIPSS officials

The officials who have allegedly refused to honour the police invitation are Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha who was recently deployed to Lagos as Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, and Professor Elias Wahab.

A source at NIPSS confirmed that the official invitation letter from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), signed by AIG Dakwara A. Mohammed, was received and stamped in the Director General’s office on September 29, 2025. Despite this, the accused officials have yet to appear.

Sources suggest the refusal stems from the fact that the Head of the FCID, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Sadiq Idris Abubakar, is also a member of the prestigious National Institute (mni), a credential shared by two of the accused officials.

It was gathered that the DIG was said to be looking for ways to push the matter under the carpet.

Speaking to SolaceBase over the issue, NIPSS Spokesman, Prof. Sola Adeyanju, on Wednesday confirmed that the Institute received the invitation.

Adeyanju said the institute’s Director General has spoken to the DIG seeking an extension of time for the three officers to present themselves.

Also, FCID Spokesperson, Funmi Eguaoje, however, denied the insinuation that DIG Sadiq Idris Abubakar is trying to push the matter under the carpet.

She requested to be given a little moment to respond to the issue, which the reporter obliged.

The FCID Spokesperson later called the reporter, confirming that the three officers accused in the petition have indeed requested an extension of time to appear for questioning.

She told SolaceBase that the trio are expected to be at the FCID next week.

The issue, which is a developing story, will be closely monitored to ensure that truth prevails.