Whistleblower, PIDOM regains freedom weeks after arrest

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Bristol Tamunobifiri, popularly known by his X name PIDOM, has been released from the Kuje correctional centre in Abuja.

Tamunobifiri regained his freedom on Friday after he perfected his bail conditions.

Omoyele Sowore, an activist, shared images of the whistleblower outside the Kuje prison on his X handle on Friday.

Last Friday, Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja, granted PIDOM N5 million bail with one surety in like sum.

Nwite said the surety must be a resident of Abuja and depose to an affidavit of means.

He said the surety must also provide evidence of three years of tax clearance with two passport-sized photographs.

The judge also ruled that the defendant must deposit his passport with the court.

PIDOM was arraigned on September 3, on a nine-count charge brought against him by Olukayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police.

He was accused of “mobilising and soliciting support to unduly compel the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest”.

The police said the whistleblower allegedly laundered N970,000 deemed to be “proceeds of an unlawful act”.

In August, the police said the whistleblower was arrested at his hotel room in Rivers.

The police added that PIDOM was arrested for “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations”.