A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to a journalist and whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, identified by the Nigeria police as the face behind the PIDOMNigeria account on X.
The Nigeria Police had arraigned the whistleblower on charges of money laundering, unlawfully obtaining and disseminating classified official secret documents and cybercrime.
His arrest and arraignment by the police had stirred up the internet with Nigerians demanding his immediate release and end to the consistent intimidation of journalists and activists.
About a month later, Justice Emeka Nwite granted Bristol N5 million bail with one surety in like sum.
Justice Nwite gave the ruling in response to a motion on notice submitted by Deji Adeyanju, who led Bristol’s team of lawyers.
The motion on notice is a formal request to the court to take a specific action or make a particular decision.
In this case, Adeyanju’s team filed the motion, and Justice Nwite delivered a ruling, which is a judicial decision made by a judge after considering the arguments and evidence presented.
Nwite also ruled that the defendant must deposit his passport with the court.