PIDOM’s Counsels Sue Police For Unlawful Detention
Counsels to a popular whistleblower journalist known on X as PIDOMNigeria, and identified by the Police as Bristol Tamunobiefiri, have file an ex parte motion before Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking his release from custody.
The legal team, led by Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based lawyer, is praying the court to declare Bristol’s detention illegal
Other respondents in the motion included; the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in FCT Abuja, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, the Nigeria Police Force, the Attorney General of the Federation, the State Security Service, the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army.
In a document circulating online and seen by Osun Defender, the lawyers via the motion, said they expected the police to bring Bristol before a judge between 24 and 48 hours as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stipulates.
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The counsels also prayed the coury to grant him bail in recognition of the legal presumption of his innocence until a guilty verdict is made by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to the counsels, Bristol’s health is detriorating and he has in particular been nursing an injured finger.
Osun Defender reported that the journalist was declared missing by a fellow undercover journalist, David Hundeyin, over his sudden disappearance online.
But the Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that it took Bristol into custody over allegations of “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations.
The police allege the crimes he has committed include cybercrime, treasonable felony, breach of the Official Secrets Act and terrorism financing.
“We will do due diligence in carrying out a thorough investigation into the cases”, the Police said.
