Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, remanded alleged whistleblower, Isaac Tamunobifiri Bristol, also known as PIDOM, in Kuje Correctional facility.
PIDOM, who has spent 28 days in detention, was finally arraigned on a nine-count charge of unlawfully obtaining and distributing government classified documents, Cybercrimes and destruction of evidence, brought against him by the Federal Government.
In the charge sheet marked ‘FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024,’ PIDOM was also accused of claiming that Tinubu released N24.1bn to the NAHCON Chairman through Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, which he claimed later increased to N90bn.
“That you Bristol Tamunobifiri ‘M’ 41 years of No. 36 Hardy Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria within this Honourable court sometime between June and July, 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Honourable transmitted an alleged classified document of the Federal Government of Nigeria by means of X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%opressed wherein you knowingly sent a false message to with: See the document below wherein Tinubu released the sum of N24, 143, 494, 567. 32 billion Naira to NAHCON Chairman through Shettima’s office. Because Nigerians didn’t react enough, they went back and increased it to a whopping Ninety Billion Naira. ‘Saraka’ for the men. Free money with the intentional of causing the breakdown of law and order and you hereby commit an offence contrary to section 24 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc) Act 2015 as amended 2024, ” one of the counts read.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, PIDOM denied all charges levelled against him.
The prosecution, A.A. Egwu, then asked for a date for the trial to commence.
Counsel for PIDOM, Deji Adeyanju stood to move an oral bail application, but the judge insisted he put it in writing to be considered.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned proceedings till September 23, 2024, for commencement of trial.
NewsNGR had reported the arrest of the social media activist on August 5, 2024, from his hotel room in Rivers State.
The police in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, explained that “In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations.”
Until his arrest, Tamunobiefiri, who tweets through his handle @PIDOMNigeria had boasted that he could not be arrested, describing himself as a “breeze.”
He claimed to have access to classified documents and tweeted only government-related activities.
The police admitted that his “arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.”
According to the police, “There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others.
“We will do due diligence in carrying out a thorough investigation into the cases.
“The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation,” the police said.