The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested three bloggers, Adebukola Kolapo, Nnedum Somtomchukwu, and Isaac Akpokighe, accused of engaging in cyberstalking through their alleged involvement with a popular blog site, GistLover.
But the popular blog, on its Instagram page, challenged the police to provide proof that those arrested are the operators of the blog.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.
Adejobi noted that the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, acting on a petition at the instance of Hon and Dr. Seye Oladejo, arrested three suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and threat to life.
The FPRO said, “The suspects, namely, Adebukola Kolapo, Nnedum Somtomchukwu, and Isaac Akpokighe, all male of ages 27, 25 and 30 respectively are members of a syndicate called Gistlover family, responsible for the daily running of the Gistlover blog, a microblogging platform known for cyberstalking, incitement, blackmail, and sundry, which has over the years been a course for public outcry.
“Upon arrest, the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming evidence.
“The first suspect Adebukola Kolapo a.k.a Omo oba Gistlover was responsible for the creation of over 80 per cent of the Gistlover pages thereby lending his digital footprint for the perpetration of the aforementioned criminal act.
“Being on the pay roll of the said platform and having enjoyed incentives like car gifts and monies, Adebukola was saddled with the responsibility of scouting, editing and captioning contents including the cyber stalking post made against the complainant, Hon. and Dr. Mrs Oluseyi Oladejo. Adebukola has also contributed in laundering monies received from the illegal scheme through various means.”
Adejobi added that digital forensic analysis led to the recovery of eight Gistlover pages created on the instruction of the head of the syndicate by Adebukola, and wallet addresses used in laundering money.
The FPRO added, “The second suspect, Ine Nnedum Somtochukwu, also shared in the conspiracy wherein at every point the page was taken down for certain infractions and violation of policies at the instance of reports from law enforcement agencies, the suspect using his platform, will by all means redirect traffic to the new page, helping the blog to evade sanctions.
“Enjoying incentives like referrals for promotions from the head of the syndicate, Nnedum has also been found sharing contents, feed backs, and making defamatory remarks with the said head of the syndicate.
“The third suspect, Isaac Akpokighe a 30 years old male resident of Igando, Lagos State unlike the duo above, is like hundreds of Nigerians whom having observed the lucrative nature of the blackmailing, cyber stalking and false information market, decides to imitate the Gistlover blog.
“By so doing, he created several of such pages and mirrors the activities of the blog including reposting the defamatory and life-threatening post against the complainant and many other notable Nigerians. Digital forensics led to the recovery of four Gistlover pages created by Isaac Apkokogho.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.”
Adejobi quoted the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, as warning against all sorts of partnerships that promote the illegal activities of the blog and others engaging in similar activities.
Meanwhile, the Gistlover Instagram handle has debunked the arrest and accused the police of displaying “unprofessionalism.”
An Instagram post on the account read, “You guys are a big joke, is this how useless and senseless you guys are, big joke and clout just to prove what?
“Bring one evidence wey una see say na those boys be Gistlover, make una do una mumu finish , ati arrester ooo ati petitioner ooo, all of una na lawsuit go jam una this new year, since you all have money to waste for court.”
