Court orders the detention of whistleblower PIDOM in Kuje prison
On Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Isaac Tamunobifiri, also known as PIDOM, be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Facility. PIDOM, who claims to be a whistleblower, was charged with nine counts by the Inspector General of Police. These charges include allegations of money laundering, cybercrime, and the unauthorized dissemination of classified documents.
The charges against PIDOM detail several offenses. The first count accuses him of using his X handle (@Pidomnigeria) to mobilize support from Nigerians to pressure the federal government into certain actions, through a campaign tagged #Endbadgovernanceinnigeria. This action allegedly violates Section 18(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
The second count involves PIDOM transmitting what is claimed to be a classified government document via his X handle, containing false information about financial transactions involving President Tinubu. This alleged act contravenes Section 24(b) of the Cybercrime Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
In addition to these charges, PIDOM faces allegations of money laundering, with claims that the funds he acquired were derived from illegal activities. The ninth charge accuses him of tampering with evidence by destroying his Tecno Phantom X phone and attempting to dispose of it by flushing it down a hotel toilet.
PIDOM pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his plea, his defense attorney, Deji Adeyanju, requested bail. However, the prosecution objected to this request. After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the bail hearing to September 23 and ordered PIDOM to remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
PIDOM’s charges, listed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024, include allegations of mobilizing support to coerce government actions through protests, spreading false claims about money laundering, and unlawfully obtaining and disseminating classified documents, in violation of the Official Secrets Act 1962.
The police have indicated that their investigation revealed PIDOM’s connections with investigative journalist David Hundeyin and Michael Alade, who are considered accomplices. Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi explained that PIDOM’s arrest followed a petition from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Adejobi noted that PIDOM resisted arrest by locking himself in his hotel room, destroying his phone, and flushing it away, and also refused to provide his phone’s password, hindering the investigation.
Adejobi further stated that PIDOM was implicated in leaking sensitive documents and accessing restricted police data, actions which could undermine national security and public order. The police are actively pursuing Hundeyin and Alade for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
