A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to a journalist and whistleblower, Isaac Bristol Tamunobifiri, identified by the Nigeria police as the face behind the PIDOMNigeria account on X.
Credible News recalls that the Nigeria Police Force said the officials from the National Cybercrime Centre arrested him for allegedly undermining the integrity of government operations.
Tamunobiefiri operates as an anonymous whistleblower on X.com, 99% Oppressed, and tweets as #PIDOMNIGERIA.
The police said PIDOMNigeria was arrested on August 5 in his hotel room in Rivers State.
His arrest and arraignment by the police had stirred up the internet with Nigerians demanding his immediate release and end to the consistent intimidation of journalists and activists.
About a month later, Justice Emeka Nwite granted Bristol N5 million bail with one surety in like sum.
Justice Nwite gave the ruling in response to a motion on notice submitted by Deji Adeyanju, who led Bristol’s team of lawyers.
READ ALSO: Whistleblower PIDOMNigeria alive in police custody, David Hundeyin confirms
The motion on notice is a formal request to the court to take a specific action or make a particular decision.
In this case, Adeyanju’s team filed the motion, and Justice Nwite delivered a ruling, which is a judicial decision made by a judge after considering the arguments and evidence presented.
Nwite also ruled that the defendant must deposit his passport with the court.
Justice Nwite earlier ordered the remand of whistleblower in Kuje correctional facility after his arraignment on September 4 on a nine-count charge brought against him by the Inspector General of Police on alleged money laundering, cybercrime, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining, and disseminating classified secret documents.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who announced his presence in court on Friday in support for PIDOM wrote on his X handle: “Today, we are present at the Federal High Court in Abuja today in solidarity with individuals subjected to repression under the @officialABAT regime, today for the first time I met Isaac Bristol aka, @PIDOMNIGERIA, who remains steadfast and unwavering; others include activists advocating for great governance in Nigeria, falsely accused of TREASON, with additional names recently added by @policeNg and newly amended charges. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #FearlessInOctober
Later on, he posted, “Isaac Bristol granted Bail! @PIDOMNIGERIA #FREEPIDOMNIGERIANOW”
Meanwhile netizens have hailed the release of the whistleblower and Sowore for his active participation in the legal trial process.
An X user @tayoomosho said: All you are doing will be told in Nigeria’s history in years to come. Please know that many of us are with you in this struggle.
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