The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of Isaac Bristol, a social media influencer known as “PIDOMNigeria,” due to the absence of presiding Judge Justice Emeka Nwite. Justice Nwite, who had recently completed the annual court vacation session, is currently on a two-week leave. The trial, originally scheduled for November 5, has now been rescheduled to January 22, 2025.
Bristol, who is facing multiple charges related to cybercrime, unauthorized handling of government documents, and money laundering, was initially granted bail by Justice Nwite on September 27. The bail, set at ₦5 million, included a requirement for one surety of the same amount.
Justice Nwite emphasized that bail is a constitutional right and required that the surety be a reputable citizen with verified tax clearance and residence address. Bristol was also instructed to surrender his international passport as a condition of his release.
Bristol’s legal issues began on August 5 when he was arrested by police in a hotel in Rivers State. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that Bristol’s alleged activities posed a threat to government security.
On September 3, Bristol was arraigned on a nine-count charge filed by Simon Lough, SAN, representing the Inspector-General of Police. Among the charges are accusations of disseminating confidential government documents, destruction of evidence, and other cybercrime-related offenses.
The charges are linked to Bristol’s alleged publication of claims that President Bola Tinubu transferred ₦24.1 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) through Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, with a subsequent increase to ₦90 billion. Bristol has denied all accusations against him.
