A whistleblower, Isaac Bristol Tamunobifiri, who was arraigned and detained in prison custody for allegedly exposing a classified document, on Friday, secured N5million bail from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendant, who is popularly known as PIDOM, is facing a nine-counts charge that was instituted against him by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

Prior to the arraignment of the defendant on September 3, police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who announced his arrest, alleged that he “committed serious offenses that undermine the integrity of government operations.”

He was specifically accused of obtaining and distributing classified government documents, destroying evidence, and contravening both the money laundering and cybercrime laws.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Lough, SAN, stressed that the defendant shared documents alleging that President Bola Tinubu released N24.1 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, through the office of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima. He was accused of claiming that the fund was later increased to N90 billion.

However, upon his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegation against him, even as his lawyer, Mr Deji Adeyanju, prayed the court to release him on bail, pending the determination of the case. Even though police lawyer, Lough, SAN, opposed the bail application, he was overruled by trial Justice Emeka Nwite.

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The judge held that the charge against the defendant contained bailable offences, adding that nothing was placed before the court to establish that he would evade trial.

Consequently, he granted the defendant bail to the tune of N5m with one surety in the like sum.

The court held that the surety must be a reasonable citizen whose tax clearance certificate and address must be verified.

While the defendant was ordered to surrender his international passport, the court held he should remain in prison custody, pending the fulfillment of all the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till November 5 for trial.