Okitipi Samuel, a Nigerian man, has been taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force for his alleged role in a global cyberattack on Microsoft 365 users.

Benjamin Hundeyin, Force public relations officer, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of investigations carried out by the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force.

Hundeyin said the centre, under the leadership of Ifeanyi Uche, its director and Commissioner of Police, commenced investigations in collaboration with Microsoft, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.

According to him, investigations revealed that a phishing toolkit known as “Raccoon 0365” was used to create fake Microsoft login portals to harvest user credentials and unlawfully access email accounts belonging to corporate organisations, financial institutions, and educational institutions in several countries.

“This investigation commenced following credible intelligence received from Microsoft USA through the FBI, indicating that a malicious phishing toolkit known as Raccoon0365 was being used to create fake Microsoft login portals, harvest user credentials, and unlawfully access the email accounts of corporate organisations, financial institutions, and educational establishments,” Hundeyin said.

He added that between January and September 2025, several reports of unauthorised access to Microsoft 365 accounts were traced to phishing emails designed to mimic legitimate Microsoft login pages, enabling business email compromise, internal phishing, data breaches, and other cyber-enabled fraud.

Hundeyin said digital forensic analysis and cryptocurrency tracing identified wallets connected to the illegal operation.

He noted that operatives were deployed to Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Joshua, James, and Okitipi Samuel between September 20 and October 4, 2025.

“Following extensive digital forensic and technical intelligence analysis, the centre conducted cryptocurrency tracing that identified suspicious wallets connected to cash-out schemes.

“Acting on actionable intelligence, operational teams were deployed to Lagos and Edo states, resulting in the arrest of Joshua, James, and Okitipi Samuel. Searches at their residences led to the recovery of mobile devices, laptops, and other digital exhibits linked to the fraudulent scheme,” he said.

Hundeyin identified Okitipi Samuel, also known as “0365” and Moses Felix as the principal suspect and developer of the phishing infrastructure.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to open governance, transparency and inclusive digital development as the Open Government Partnership (OGP) team formally presented the award and certificate received at the OGP Global Summit Spain 2025 to the Agency’s leadership.

Nigeria emerged as the overall global winner in the Digital Governance category in recognition of the country’s excellence in deploying digital tools and policies to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. In addition, Nigeria received the Regional Award for advancing Open Digital Governance across Africa and the Middle East, reaffirming its leadership role in promoting open government principles and driving digital transformation across the region.

These recognitions were largely attributed to initiatives led by NITDA in collaboration with civil society partners, such as Dataphyte, which showcased innovative and inclusive approaches to digital governance at the summit.

The summit, which was organised in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, brought together more than 1,500 high-level representatives of governments, civil society leaders, and policymakers from around the world to exchange experiences, best practices, and progress on open government initiatives and implementation on key issues.

Receiving the OGP delegation at NITDA, Inuwa described the recognition as a national honour rather than an institutional one, stressing that the award reflects Nigeria’s collective efforts across government, civil society and the private sector in advancing open governance principles through the digital space.

According to him, such global recognition comes with heightened responsibility to deliver on commitments made under the OGP framework.

“This is not just about NITDA. It is a national recognition, and every recognition comes with responsibility,” the DG said.

“If we fail to execute the commitments we have made, it will not only affect our image locally but also at the international stage. This is also not something NITDA can do in isolation,” he added.

Inuwa linked the achievement directly to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that digital transformation, transparency, economic diversification, job creation and efficient public service delivery remain central presidential priority areas.

He emphasised that leveraging digital technologies to deepen openness and accountability aligns with national objectives of strengthening institutions, improving governance outcomes and building trust between government and citizens.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the NITDA boss underscored the role of the OGP platform as a catalyst for a strong multi-stakeholder approach in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

He called on civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and other government institutions to provide technical expertise, guidance and sustained engagement to ensure effective implementation of agreed commitments.

“We need to leverage the OGP platform. We need your expertise, your guidance, your support and your commitment to hand-hold us in delivering on these commitments,” he said.

He further noted that “a multi-stakeholder approach in the digital space is critical to fostering a resilient ecosystem that delivers real value to citizens.”

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA has already begun internal reviews of its OGP commitments and has tasked its representatives, including Dr Rousseau, to work with colleagues to develop a clear execution strategy.

He proposed the creation of joint work streams with OGP stakeholders to support implementation, ensure accountability and keep all parties on track.

“We are humans. Oversight and collaboration help us stay focused. With commitment, nothing is impossible, and I believe these goals are achievable,” he added, assuring the delegation of NITDA’s readiness and political will to deliver on all agreed commitments.

Inuwa also welcomed the idea of engaging the political leadership of OGP, including the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, with a view to briefing President Tinubu on the achievement. He noted that celebrating milestones is important, as it reinforces morale and demonstrates that Nigeria’s efforts in digital governance are gaining global recognition.

“It’s also good when there are wins, we should celebrate, because we too never knew that the little things we are doing are noticed not just within Nigeria, but globally, to the extent of earning us this award,” he asserted.

He concluded by expressing gratitude to the Nigerian National OGP Secretariat and the global OGP leadership, reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration and building a more productive working relationship that will translate open governance principles into measurable national impact.

Earlier in his remark, Mr Olusoji Apampa, who led the OGP deelegation, said the honours were earned through a strong partnership between government and civil society, with NITDA playing a critical role, particularly in commitments focused on improving digital governance in Nigeria.

Apampa expressed hope that the awards would serve as added momentum to deepen ongoing commitments under NITDA’s leadership and accelerate the practical implementation of reforms aimed at strengthening digital governance across the country.

MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), marked a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s media landscape with the graduation of 20 Fellows from the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) Cohort 4 held at the Lagos Business School.

MTN

The ceremony celebrated excellence, resilience and forward-thinking storytelling, while also announcing the programme’s expansion into a Pan-African edition beginning next year.

The six-month programme, known for its rigorous coursework, demanding schedule and strong emphasis on critical thinking, included an international study visit to South Africa that broadened participants’ understanding of media innovation across the continent.

The graduation event acknowledged the Fellows’ commitment to completing the intensive journey while strengthening their capacity to influence the future of African media.

Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communications, PAU, commended the Fellows for their persistence throughout the programme. “In some moments, it was pretty grueling for some of you, but you made it. You are here, and I congratulate you,” he said.

“He encouraged them to see the graduation as a new beginning, adding, “We have so much to do, and each one of us is best positioned now to make that transformation.”

Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, congratulated the cohort on successfully completing the six-month programme and reaffirmed MTN’s long-term vision for the initiative.

He said, “Congratulations on completing this journey. You are joining a network of professionals who are committed to elevating the media landscape in Nigeria and beyond.

“The future of this programme depends on your impact. This cohort represents the outcome we envisioned when the journey began. Today, the programme is not only thriving but also expanding.”

He further announced that the Pan-African edition of the programme will be launched in 2026, providing media professionals across the continent with the same level of immersive training and unique exposure experienced by the Fellows.

A key highlight of the event was MTN Nigeria’s presentation of ₦2.5 million in cash prizes to Fellows whose projects demonstrated exceptional innovation, depth of research and alignment with the programme’s ethos of impactful storytelling. The awards were presented by Chineze Gbenga-Oluwatoye, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, and Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation.

Vanessa Ukamaka Richard Bassey, Head of Programmes, Sparkling 92.3 FM, Calabar, emerged as the top winner, receiving ₦1 million for the MTN Foundation Chairman Award for Innovative Reportage and another ₦1 million for the MTN Chairman’s Prize for Innovation. Sharing her experience, she said, “It’s been a training ground. It has opened me up to new things and made me more confident. There’s something about knowledge and information and exposure to your mind and to your esteem. After today, I know there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Abolaji Adebayo received ₦500,000 for the MIP Cohort 4 Best Report, recognised for its clarity, depth and relevance to national discourse.

Several Fellows shared how the programme has reshaped their careers. Adekeye Ayobami of Abamimigo FM described the programme as arriving at the perfect moment, aligning with his recent career elevation.

Ubani Amarachi of Channels TV highlighted the value of the South Africa trip, noting that it transformed her approach to telling African stories and reinforced her belief that graduation marks the beginning of greater responsibility and impact.

The graduation of the MIP Cohort 4 Fellows, coupled with the announcement of the Pan-African edition, reinforces MTN Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to strengthening the media ecosystem through education, exposure and innovation.

The partnership between MTN Nigeria and Pan-Atlantic University continues to serve as a catalyst for developing media professionals equipped to shape narratives, advance societal progress and drive meaningful change across Africa.