The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has failed to prosecute Isaac Bristol, one week after Muyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) confirmed to FIJ that they had him in their custody.
They claim Bristol has for years operated @PIDOMNigeria, an X account, leaked classified documents in violation of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), and committed cyber-related offences and other crimes.
Adejobi, while responding to FIJ’s questions about Bristol’s whereabouts via WhatsApp on August 23, said the police took him into custody on August 5.
In his statement, the police spokesman did not mention a date for Bristol’s arraignment but claimed the police were still investigating the allegations.
The statement read: “In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations. The arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.
READ MORE: PIDOM’s Lawyers Sue the Police for Failing To Charge Him to Court for 23 Days
“There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others. We will do due diligence in carrying out a thorough investigation into the cases.
“The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation.”
The police granted Bristol bail, but to meet the terms, he would have to provide a civil servant and a businessman who are at a minimum of Level 16 in the civil service. These two sureties must also each have properties in Abuja valued at a minimum of N500 million.
Given the civil service salary structure, meeting these conditions would require one to have worked at that level for at least 150 years without spending their income on anything.
On Monday, Bristol’s lawyers led by Deji Adeyanju, filed an ex parte motion challenging his rights abuse and continued detention at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.
FIJ earlier reported how the police abducted Bristol, kept him in chains and starved him for at least six days in a detention facility in Rivers before relocating him to the FCID.
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