FG Moves Against Alleged ‘Hacking’ Of Buhari’s Medical Records, Writes UK, USA

The federal government has written to the United Kingdom and the United States of America over the alleged hacking of the medical records of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that prior to the 2015 general election, a Nigerian billionaire allegedly paid £2m to Cambridge Analytica to hack into Buhari’s medical records.

The FG, thereafter, set up a committee to investigate the report that suggested that the consulting firm that combines data mining, brokerage and analysis with strategic communication for electoral process manipulated Nigeria’s 2007 elections by organising campaigns to weaken the chances of opposition parties.

They want to know if the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in 2007 and 2015 general election campaigns broke the laws of the country or infringed on the rights of other parties and their candidates.

It was learnt that the Federal Government is considering appointing a special investigator and possibly start criminal prosecution by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) depending on the outcome of the investigation.

A source speaking on the panel’s communication with the UK and the US said, “You will recall that when the news broke, the government set up what we called an in-house committee to investigate the matter.

“The last I heard about that committee was that they have written to the US and the UK for more information on what happened.

“I am yet to find out if those countries have responded and the stage which the committee is now.”

When contacted on the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said, “Nigerians deserve answers immediately from the PDP administration, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica on how and why they improperly obtained and used data to interfere in Nigerian elections.

“An investigation should help to determine if there is a linkage between the various killings and maimings that have characterised our elections since 2007 and the misinformation activities of the Cambridge Analytica data flows.

“Such investigations will also help President Buhari to achieve his wish to leave a legacy of improved elections.”