The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has again denied lawyers and family members access to Isaac Bristol, a man they believe to be behind the X handle @PIDOMNigeria who has been in their custody since August 5.
FIJ gathered on Sunday that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) refused Deji Adeyanju, Isaac’s lawyer, access to him on Saturday, claiming the National Cybercrime Center (NCCC) instructed them not to allow anyone see him any longer after FIJ detailed how the police abducted, chained and starved the detainee for at least six days.
FIJ also learnt from sources close to the matter that security agencies intend to relocate Isaac to what they describe as a blacksite, away from the media and his legal representatives. This, they said, may either happen on Sunday night or after the court hearing on Monday.
“The top brass here want to put him in a secure facility away from the public eye,” the source who did not have authorisation to speak to the press, told FIJ.
READ MORE: ANALYSIS: PIDOM’s Bail Is Impossible. Level 16 Civil Servants Need More Than 150 Years to Afford N500m
“They may either keep him at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) or at the Department of State Services (DSS) or somewhere else. Right now, it is very dangerous to see him as there are strict instructions not to allow anyone access. Anyone who violates this order may lose their jobs.”
Another source who saw Isaac when he initially arrived in Abuja told FIJ the man was undergoing physical and psychological torture.
He said: “With the isolation and manner in which they abducted him, he became wary when they started sending food his way.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Handcuffed for Days, Thrown in a Hole, 6 Days of Solitary Confinement… How Police Dehumanised PIDOMNigeria
“He had endured six days of starvation, so it was suspected that they may attempt to poison him. Since then, he eats only when someone has first tasted the food, or he gets the assurance of whatever the meal contents are. This treatment of him is barbaric.”
At the FCID, police have described Isaac as a kidnapper. He is also accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act, cybercrime, treasonable felony, terrorism financing, amongst others.
On X, Pidom regularly publishes leaks on government activities and prominent individuals.
Muyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, confirmed his arrest on Saturday via a private message to FIJ.
The post Police Restrict Access to ‘PIDOM’, Set to Move Him to Underground Facility appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.