The Nigeria Police Force has charged Isaac Bristol, also known as PIDOM, with money laundering, cybercrime, and illegally obtaining, keeping, and sharing classified official documents.
The whistleblower appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, September 2, 2024.
Isaac Bristol, who is known on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) as @pidomnigeria and 99%oppressed, faced nine charges but pleaded not guilty to all of them.
After his plea, Justice Nwite set the next court date for September 23, to decide on the bail application submitted by his defense team.
The judge also ordered that Bristol be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre until then.
PIDOM’s arraignment comes 28 days after his arrest on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.
Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi explained that Bristol was detained for allegedly “committing serious offenses that compromise government operations.”
The police stated that there are several accusations against him, including unlawful possession and leaking of classified documents, along with other cyber-related offenses.
The statement emphasized the police’s commitment to upholding the law and ensuring a more secure nation.
The arrest was confirmed after investigative journalist David Hundeyin revealed that the anonymous whistleblower had been detained.
This news sparked concern among the Nigerian online community, leading to a trending campaign on X with hashtags like #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereisPidom, demanding his release and more information about his situation.
KanyiDaily recalls that PIDOM recently claimed that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was involved in a romance scam with a female doctor based in the United States named Mrs. Fagbule.
