Court fix date To Hear Bail Application Of Whistleblower Isaac Bristol ‘PIDOMNigeria’
This development comes after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on September 3, 2024, directing that Isaac Bristol be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until September 23, 2024, following his arraignment by the police.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, September 9, for hearing on a motion challenging the unlawful detention of Isaac Bristol, accused by the authorities of being behind the prominent whistleblower social media account ‘PIDOMNigeria’.
Additionally, the court scheduled September 11, 2024, as the date for the hearing of Isaac Bristol’s bail application.
This development comes after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on September 3, 2024, directing that Isaac Bristol be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until September 23, 2024, following his arraignment by the police.
During the proceedings, Isaac Bristol entered the dock at approximately 12:30 pm and vehemently pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge levied against him by the police, pertaining to various cybercrime-related offences.
He was arraigned before Justice Nwite by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for allegedly mobilising and soliciting support to “unduly compel” the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest, making false money-laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents in contravention of the official Secret Act 1962.
However, SaharaReporters learnt on Friday that hearing for his bail application had been fixed for September 11. Also, the motion challenging his unlawful detention has been fixed for Monday, September 9, 2024, SaharaReporters also learnt.
His counsel, Deji Adeyanju had on the last adjourned date urged the court to grant him bail on health grounds but the oral application was rejected by the judge as he asked him to come up with a formal and written application for bail.
He also pleaded with the judge to order the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the police owing to his health challenges.
Nigerian Police Accuse Popular Whistleblower, PIDOMNigeria Of Leaking Classified Documents, Cybercrime Offences
The judge ignored all the entreaties made by Adeyanju and ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre till September 23 for the hearing of his bail application.
Sources earlier told SaharaReporters that Isaac was critically ill. He was also reportedly coughing profusely in court after spending 28 days in an underground cell at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Area 10 in Abuja.
