The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned Isaac Bristol, also known as PIDOM, on charges of money laundering, cybercrime, and the unlawful obtaining, retention, and dissemination of classified official documents.
He was brought before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Isaac Bristol, known as @pidomnigeria and 99%oppressed on X, faced nine counts and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After his plea, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to September 23, 2024, for the ruling on the bail application submitted by the defendant’s legal team.
The judge also ordered that Bristol be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
This development comes after 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 emphasized the force’s commitment to upholding the law and ensuring a more secure nation for all Nigerians.
This confirmation followed a revelation by investigative journalist David Hundeyin, who disclosed that the anonymous whistleblower had been arrested.
The news sparked widespread concern among the Nigerian online community, leading to a trending campaign on X (formerly Twitter) with hashtags such as #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereIsPidom, among others, calling for information on PIDOM Nigeria’s whereabouts and his release.