ABUJA — Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has raised an alarm over an alleged attempt to compromise his digital privacy, claiming that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, engaged a third party to hack his mobile phone.
In a statement released on Friday, Sowore asserted that the surveillance attempt was a direct response to his ongoing campaign for an international probe into the Minister’s assets. The activist claimed the hacking plot was unsuccessful but identified it as a clear act of state-sponsored intimidation.
“Wike paid someone to hack my phone,” Sowore declared, alleging that the operative involved has a history of conducting digital surveillance. He linked the incident to his recent efforts to track luxury real estate acquisitions in the United States, specifically in Florida, which he alleges are tied to the Minister.
The friction between the two has intensified following Sowore’s formal petitions to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Florida Attorney General’s Office, calling for the forfeiture of properties he claims were purchased with unexplained wealth.
In response to previous allegations from the activist, spokespersons for the FCT Minister have dismissed Sowore’s claims as “baseless” and “distractions” from his own legal battles. The Minister’s camp has consistently maintained that all assets were legally acquired and disclosed.
Legal analysts point out that if proven, the unauthorized interception of communications would constitute a severe violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, which carries stiff penalties for both the hackers and those who commission them.
Sowore, who has previously faced various charges from the Department of State Services (DSS), stated that he would not be deterred by surveillance, adding that he has taken additional security measures to protect his communications.
