Police trying to discredit my international refugee status — David Hundeyin

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has denied the Nigerian Police Force’s allegations that he is an accomplice in the trial of whistleblower Isaac Tamunobifiri, also known as PIDOMNigeria, claiming that the police’s accusations are politically motivated and aimed at discrediting his work and international refugee status.

In an interview with News Central Television on Wednesday, Hundeyin alleged that the government has been trying to silence him and other journalists who expose corruption and wrongdoing.

Hundeyin also expressed concern about PIDOMNigeria’s well-being, claiming that he was sprayed with a toxic substance while in detention and is suffering from breathing difficulties.

The police had accused Hundeyin and Michael Alade of being accomplices to PIDOMNigeria, who is facing charges of leaking classified documents, fraud, sedition, and tax evasion.

Hundeyin detailed attempts by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2023 to abduct him from overseas due to his exposure of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officials. According to Hundeyin, these attempts occurred in Ghana and Kenya before he relocated to the United Kingdom for safety.

“There were several attempts by the National Intelligence Agency to abduct me. They also tried to render me stateless. I even attempted to change my country twice. There was an attempt to abduct me from Ghana, then I had to move to Kenya; and when they came for me in Kenya, I fled to the United Kingdom,” Hundeyin said.

“This is part of the price that you have to pay when you decide to speak the truth at a time when it isn’t fashionable to do so, especially in a regime that views truth-telling as a threat.”

Regarding his status as an accomplice in PIDOM’s trial, Hundeyin noted that he had anticipated such actions and chose to go public after observing suspicious activities involving his digital devices.

He suggested that these actions were part of a strategy by state security to discredit him and other political opponents.

“The attempts to hack my devices, which led to me replacing them, indicated that something was amiss. I suspected it was an attempt by state security to involve me in a criminal investigation, aiming to discredit my international refugee status and target political opponents, journalists and whistleblowers like myself and PIDOM,” Hundeyin explained. “They named me a suspect in an ongoing investigation to create a narrative that could lead to my placement on an Interpol notice list, making it harder for me to travel.”

Hundeyin also commented on PIDOM’s condition, alleging that the suspect was exposed to a toxic substance while in FCID detention, leading to severe breathing difficulties. “He cannot breathe properly; you can hear it in his voice. Clearly, something is wrong with him,” Hundeyin said.

PIDOM is facing charges which include leaking classified documents, fraud, sedition, and tax evasion. According to Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, PIDOM was arrested following a petition from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Adejobi added that PIDOM resisted arrest, destroyed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet when operatives of the National Cybercrime Centre arrived at his hotel.

PIDOM was remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility, Abuja, and arraigned on Tuesday on nine counts, including alleged money laundering, cybercrime, and disseminating classified documents. The first count alleges that PIDOM accessed a computer network to mobilise support against the Federal Government through a movement promoted with the hashtag #Endbadgovernanceinnigeria.