PIDOM Arraigned, Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Cybercrime, Money Laundering

 

Nigerian journalist, Isaac Bristol, AKA PIDOM has been arraigned in court.

 

He was arraigned on charges bordering on money laundering, cybercrime, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified official secret documents.

 

Bristol, who was arraigned on nine counts before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

Following his plea of not guilty, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to the 23rd of September, 2024 for the ruling of the bail application filed on behalf of the defendant and then ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

 

The development followed his arrest on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.

 

Nigerian Police Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said he was arrested on allegations of “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations”.

 

The statement added that there were several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others.

 

The statement further added that the Police Force would leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation.

 

The confirmation came after investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, revealed that PIDOM had been arrested.

 

Hundeyin’s post sparked concern among the Nigerian online community, prompting a trending campaign on X (formerly Twitter) calling for the whereabouts and release of PIDOM, using hashtags like #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereisPidom, among others.