Section 1: Protection of official information, etc.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a person who-
(a) transmits any classified matter to a person to whom he is not authorised on behalf of the government to transmit it; or
(b) obtains, reproduces or retains any classified matter which he is not authorised on behalf of the government to obtain, reproduce or retain, as the case may be, shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A public officer who fails to comply with any instructions given to him on behalf of the government as to the safeguarding of any classified matter which by virtue of his office is obtained by him or under his control shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) of this section relating to any classified matter, it shall be a defence to prove that-
(a) when the accused transmitted, obtained, reproduced or retained the matter, as the case may be, he did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to believe that it was classified matter; and
(b) when he knew or could reasonably have been expected to believe that the matter was classified matter, he forthwith placed his knowledge of the case at the disposal of the Nigerian Police Force.