September 3, 2024

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned Isaac Bristol, also known as PIDOM on charges of money laundering, cybercrime, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified official secret documents.

Channels Television reports that he was arranged before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday.

Isaac Bristol known as @pidomnigeria and 99%oppressed on X, who was arraigned on nine counts, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his plea of not guilty, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to the 23rd of September, 2024 for the ruling of the bail application filed on behalf of the defendant

Justice Nwite also ordered the remand of the defendant in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The development followed his arrest on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.

Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said he was arrested on allegations of “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations”.

The statement added that there were several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others.

The statement further added that the force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation.

The confirmation comes after investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, revealed that the anonymous whistleblower had been arrested.

His post sparked concern among the Nigerian online community, prompting a trending campaign on X (formerly Twitter) calling for the whereabouts and release of PIDOM Nigeria using hashtags like #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereisPidom, among others.