Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of Isaac Tamunobifiri, also known as PIDOM, a self-proclaimed whistleblower, at the Kuje correctional facility.
PIDOM was arraigned on Tuesday on a nine-count charge brought against him by the Inspector General of Police, including allegations of money laundering, cybercrime, and the dissemination of classified secret documents.
The first count reads: “That you Bristol Tamunobifiri ‘M’ 41 years of No. 36 Hardy Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court sometime between 2023 and August 2024, accessed the computer network using your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppresed to mobilise and solicit support from Nigerians to unduly compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to perform or abstain from performing certain acts through a movement you promoted with the hashtag #Endbadgovernanceinnigeria and you thereby commit an offence punishable under section 18(1) of the cybercrime (prohibition and prevention e.t.c) Act 2015 as amended 2024.”
The second count reads: That sometime between June and July 2024, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, you transmitted an alleged classified document of the Federal Government of Nigeria using X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%opressed wherein you knowingly sent a false message to wit: ‘See the document below wherein Tinubu released the sum of N24,143,494,567.32 to NAHCON Chairman through Shettima’s office. Because Nigerians didn’t react enough, they went back and increased it to a whopping Ninety Billion Naira. ‘Saraka’for the men. Free money to cause the breakdown of law and order and you hereby commit an offence contrary to Section 24(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc) Act 2015 as amended 2024.”
In the money laundering allegations against PIDOM, the police asserted that the funds he obtained were proceeds of unlawful activities.
The ninth charge in the court document accused PIDOM of tampering with evidence by destroying his Tecno Phantom X phone and attempting to flush it down the hotel’s water system at the time of his arrest.
PIDOM, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.
After the defendant entered his plea, his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, applied for bail, which was contested by the prosecution.
Following the arguments presented by both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to September 23 for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that PIDOM be remanded at the Kuje correctional center in the meantime.
In the charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024, PIDOM was accused of mobilizing and soliciting support to unduly pressure the government through the #Endbadgovernance protest, making false money laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining, and disseminating classified secret documents, in violation of the Official Secrets Act of 1962.
Meanwhile, police investigations have implicated investigative journalist David Hundeyin and one Michael Alade as accomplices of PIDOMNigeria.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that PIDOM was arrested following a petition from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Adejobi further explained that when operatives from the National Cybercrime Centre arrived at PIDOM’s hotel, he resisted arrest, locked himself in his room, and destroyed his phone, attempting to flush it down the toilet.
He said, “The operatives of the Nigerian Police National Cybercrime Center have apprehended an anonymous hacker in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, offences against the Official Secret Act, leakage of classified and restricted documents, acts likely to cause breach of public peace, sedition, fraud, and tax evasion.
“The discreet investigation was initiated to identify those responsible for the leakage, which led to the identification of Bristol Isaac, Michael Temidayo Alade and David Hundeyin who are suspects in connection with the alleged crimes.
“The principal suspect, Bristol Isaac, was apprehended at a hotel in Port Harcourt by National Cybercrime Center detectives.
“In an attempt to resist arrest, the suspect locked himself in the hotel room, smashed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet to destroy evidence. He also refused to surrender his phone’s password, claiming he had forgotten it, thereby concealing information. Subsequent investigations after his arrest revealed several suspicious activities between the principal suspect and his accomplices.”
Adejobi also said the suspect illegally accessed police-restricted document data.
He said, “Investigations also revealed that the suspect was responsible for leaking a sensitive restricted document generated from the Office of the President to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The suspect had also illegally accessed police-restricted document data and posted directives from the Office of the Inspector General of Police and many other restricted documents to jeopardise the security network in Nigeria.
“The complaints filed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation alleged that an anonymous blogger using the Twitter handle at PIDOM Nigeria published and distributed a restricted document on a sensitive matter of national security.”
The police spokesperson stated that PIDOM’s arrest was necessary to protect national security and uphold public order.
He said, “So the Nigerian Police National Cybercrime Center has done well in this regard to identify this man and subsequently apprehended him to protect national security, maintain public order, and identify and apprehend those engaged in criminal activities threatening the stability of our nation.”
When asked to clarify if the police were on the trail of Hundeyin and Alade, Adejobi said, “I’m sure they are working assiduously to see how they can get them.
“Perhaps they must have sent an invitation letter to them. Or they must have contacted them one way or the other. I don’t know the plan the team has.
“But I’m sure since they have fingered them, they want to interrogate them for further action. The police will do the needful to make sure everyone involved in such crimes will be brought to book after thorough interrogation and investigation.”
Hundeyin raised the alarm on X over the disappearance of PIDOM.
He shared screenshots of messages from an unidentified associate of PIDOM who informed him about PIDOM’s plight.
When asked to clarify whether the police were pursuing Hundeyin and Alade, Adejobi responded, “I’m sure they are working assiduously to see how they can get them.
“Perhaps they must have sent an invitation letter to them. Or they must have contacted them one way or the other. I don’t know the plan the team has.
“But I’m sure since they have fingered them, they want to interrogate them for further action. The police will do the needful to make sure everyone involved in such crimes will be brought to book after thorough interrogation and investigation.”
Gmart reported that Hundeyin raised concerns on X about PIDOM’s disappearance, sharing screenshots of messages from an unidentified associate of PIDOM who alerted him to PIDOM’s situation.
