Police Arraign Whistleblower PIDOM to Court Over Money Laundering, Cybercrime [VIDEO]

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned Isaac Bristol, widely known by his online aliases @pidomnigeria and 99%oppressed, on multiple charges including money laundering, cybercrime, and the unlawful handling of classified documents.

The arraignment took place before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Bristol, who was arrested on August 5, 2024, in a hotel room in Rivers State, pleaded not guilty to all nine charges brought against him.

Following his plea, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to September 23, 2024, for a ruling on the bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.

In the meantime, Bristol has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre. The arrest and subsequent arraignment of Bristol have sparked significant concern among the Nigerian online community.

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin first revealed the arrest, which led to a trending campaign on X (formerly Twitter) with hashtags such as #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereisPidom.

These campaigns have called for transparency regarding Bristol's whereabouts and demanded his release. Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that Bristol was apprehended on allegations of "committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations."

The police have emphasized their commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring national security. "The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation," added Adejobi.