Isaac Bristol, the man the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) claims to be PIDOM, has insisted that he is not the leak journalist the police believe he is.
In a written police statement obtained by FIJ, dated August 14, Bristol, through his lawyer Henry Peter Ekine, said he did not “know any name called PIDOM NIGERIA”.
“I do not know any name called PIDOM NIGERIA and as such, I do not have any association or connection whatsoever with the aforementioned name,” a part of the statement reads.
“Also, I do not know any name called TRUTHFULLY83 and as such, I do not have any association or connection whatsoever with the name.
“I know nothing about the creation of a Twitter account called the 99% OPPRESSED. In other words, I am not in any way involved in membership of the aforementioned Twitter account.
“I used Zico mentor to register a WhatsApp (with) account using
Bristol cited “his inability to see clearly” as the reason he delegated the statement writing task to his lawyer.
Judge Denies Isaac Bristol Bail
Justice Emeka Nwite, the judge presiding over the arraignment of Isaac Bristol, alleged to be behind PIDOM Nigeria, has denied him bail.
FIJ learned that Deji Adeyanju, Bristol’s lawyer, made an oral bail application, which was denied by the judge. Adeyanju informed FIJ that he would submit a written application, to which the judge would respond within seven days.
The judge adjourned the case to September 23 for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Bristol be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Bristol was taken from the custody of the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID) by police officers earlier on Tuesday. He faces nine charges, including money laundering and destruction of evidence.
FIJ had reported that Bristol’s health had deteriorated after spending several days in police custody. Sources revealed that Bristol was nursing an injury on his index finger, which had not been healing.
“His finger was bruised from the torture he experienced while in a cell in Rivers,” this source told FIJ. “Now, his general health is down. The finger is not healing and we cannot determine what illness he is battling now.”
FIJ