Isaac Bristol, a well-known whistleblower who has attracted a lot of attention on the social media site X, has become the target of formal legal action by the Nigeria Police Force. Bristol is also known by the handle PIDOMNigeria.
The authorities have slapped a nine-count accusation against Mr. Bristol, stating that he illegally gathered support from Nigerian citizens to join in the recent statewide hunger protests.
These rallies, dubbed #EndBadGovernance, were held to raise attention to the numerous concerns facing the nation and push for systemic reform.
SaharaReporters received a copy of the court paperwork stating the nine counts on Monday, giving light on the specifics of the claims brought against Mr. Bristol.
This action represents a dramatic escalation in the government’s response to the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests and PIDOMNigeria’s involvement in changing public debate.
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun is the Complainant in the complaint filed on September 2, 2024, at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division; the Defendant is Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri. The suit is filed under the case number FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024.
On behalf of Inspector General of Police Egbetokun, Simon Lough (SAN) led a group of police attorneys in filing the accusations.
Other transgressions Bristol was charged with a number of offences, including allegedly transmitting a Federal Government of Nigeria classified document, hiding cryptocurrency payments, smashing his Techno Phantom X 2021 smartphone, and trying to flush it down the hotel toilet in order to keep it from being used against him as evidence.
The charges partly read: “COUNT 1: That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M’ (41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime between 2023 and August 2024 accessed computer network using your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppressed for the purpose of mobilizing and soliciting 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 S.18 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
“COUNT 2: That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime between June and July 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court transmitted an alleged classified document of the Federal Government of Nigeria by means of your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppressed wherein you knowingly sent a false message to wit: ‘See the document below wherein Tinubu released the sum of N24,143,494,567.3 billion naira 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.”
“And you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 24 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024,” it was claimed that Bristol behaved with the intent to undermine law and order.
Count 3 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime in the year 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memo from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation titled: Request for approval of funds and inauguration of the tripartite committee on National Minimum Wage, via your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 4 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court on the 1st August 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memo, headed: Police Wireless Message, via your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria or the Nigeria Police to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 5 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M’ (41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court on the 31 July 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memos from various Police formations through your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria or the Nigeria Police to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 6 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers on the 6th October 2023, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds, when you directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the sum of about Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira from your Crypto wallet which you displayed on your X handle @Pidomnigeria and username 99%oppressed, intentionally, knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count 7 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers sometime between 2023 and August 2024, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds, directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the said funds as converted fiat currency from the digital Asset donations paid via your donation digital wallet displayed on your X handle @Pidomnigeria and username 99%oppressed, intentionally, which you knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count 8 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers sometime between 2023 and August 2024, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds; directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the total sum of Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty Seven Great British Pounds (6,637 GBP) as donations paid via your Gofundme account through your X handle @Truthfully83 investigative journalism, intentionally, knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 9 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did destroy your mobile phone Techno Phantom X 2021 model and attempted to flush same down the water system of the hotel where you were arrested with the intention of preventing it from being used in evidence and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Section 123 of the Criminal Code Act CAP 38 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
According to SaharaReporters, Bristol was taken into custody on August 5, 2024, for alleged acts linked to cybercrime by representatives of the National Cybercrime Centre. The police declared that they were looking into all of the accusations made against him.
Bristol was being held in solitary confinement at the Force headquarters and had allegedly been exposed to inhumane treatment, sources informed SaharaReporters on Friday.
The sources added that because of untreated injuries, his health had gotten worse.
