Abuja court grants whistleblower N5m bail

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to Bristol Tamunobifiri, also known as PIDOM, in the sum of N5 million and one surety in like sum.

Justice Nwite, who granted the bail on Friday, also stated that the surety must show evidence of means, be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and provide proof of tax clearance for the last three years.

Other conditions include the surety depositing an international passport with the Registrar of the Court, two passport-sized photographs, and a mobile number.

According to the judge, should the defendant fail to meet any of the conditions, his bail would be revoked, and he would be returned to remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The whistleblower had been arraigned on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, on a nine-count brought against him by the Inspector General of Police, bordering on alleged money laundering, cybercrime, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining, and disseminating classified documents.

PIDOM, known for his online activism, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Following his plea, his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, sought bail for his client, but the prosecution opposed the bail application.

However, after considering arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the ruling on the bail application until September 23 and ordered PIDOM to be remanded in the custody of Kuje Correctional Centre.

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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024, accuses PIDOM of mobilising support for the #EndBadGovernance protest and making false money laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu.

Additionally, he is accused of violating the Official Secrets Act of 1962 by unlawfully obtaining, retaining, and disseminating classified documents.

In particular, the police alleged that PIDOM was involved in the unlawful transmission of government documents and spreading false information.

One of the charges claimed that he shared documents suggesting that President Tinubu released N24.1 billion to the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) through Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, a figure later said to have been inflated to N90 billion.

The prosecution also accused PIDOM of tampering with evidence by destroying his Tecno Phantom X phone and attempting to flush it down a toilet in the hotel where he was arrested.