Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, popularly known on social media as PIDOM Nigeria, has been granted bail following his arrest for allegedly undermining government operations.
This was confirmed by The Nation after the whistleblower appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Tamunobifiri, who operates anonymously on X.com under the handle @PIDOMNIGERIA, was arrested on August 5, 2024, in a Rivers State hotel by officials from the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre.
The police accused him of cyber-related offenses, including money laundering, cybercrime, and unlawfully obtaining and distributing classified government documents.
He was arraigned on September 27, facing a nine-count charge brought by the Inspector General of Police. The charges against him include “leakage of classified restricted documents, sedition, fraud, and cyberterrorism,” according to the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi further alleged that PIDOM had raised funds to support cyberterrorism and had illegally accessed sensitive data, particularly directives from the office of the Inspector General of Police.
Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, initially ordered PIDOM’s remand at the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja following his arraignment on September 4.
However, after his second court appearance on Friday, September 27, the court granted him bail.
Prominent activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was present in court to show solidarity.
Sowore took to social media to announce PIDOM’s release. “Isaac Bristol granted Bail! @PIDOMNIGERIA #FREEPIDOMNIGERIANOW,” he posted, while earlier in the day, he expressed support for those facing repression under the current regime.
“Today, we are present at the Federal High Court in Abuja in solidarity with individuals subjected to repression… for the first time I met Isaac Bristol aka @PIDOMNIGERIA, who remains steadfast and unwavering,” Sowore wrote.
