By Ezekiel David
An Abuja federal court has ordered the detention of investigative journalist Isaac Bristol, widely known as PIDOM, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Mr Bristol, recognisable by his online handles @pidomnigeria and 99%oppressed on X (formerly Twitter), faces nine charges, including cybercrime, money laundering, and spreading false information about President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Bristol appeared before Judge Emeka Nwite where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His bail application is set to be ruled upon on September 23rd, and he will remain in custody until that time.
According to court documents, police allege that Mr Bristol used his Twitter account to circulate a classified government document between June and July. The document allegedly contained false claims that President Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, released over N24 billion (later inflated to N90 billion in subsequent posts) to the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as “free money.”
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The police contend that these actions were intended to incite public unrest and disrupt law and order, violating the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. Mr Bristol was arrested on August 5th at a hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that the arrest was made due to “serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations,” including the possession and leaking of classified documents.
Mr Bristol’s sudden arrest sparked concern among his online followers, who quickly launched a campaign demanding his release using hashtags like #FreePidom, #PIDOM, and #WhereisPidom.
Specific charges against Mr Bristol include allegations of mobilising support for the #EndBadGovernance protest to pressure the government, disseminating false money laundering accusations against President Tinubu, unlawfully obtaining and sharing classified documents, and destroying evidence by attempting to dispose of his mobile phone.