Isaac is standing trial for alleged treason and for mobilising and soliciting support to “unduly compel” the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest, false money-laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents in contravention of the official Secret Act 1962.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed September 27 for the ruling on the bail application of a Nigerian whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, the man alleged to be behind the prominent whistleblower account, PIDOM Nigeria.
Isaac is standing trial for alleged treason and for mobilising and soliciting support to “unduly compel” the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest, false money-laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents in contravention of the official Secret Act 1962.
The Defence Counsels, Abubakar Marshal and Deji Adeyanju in their arguments faulted paragraph 4 and 8 of the counter affidavit of the prosecution lawyer, Simon Lough where he declared the defendant is guilty of the charge.
He said the position of the prosecution in the affidavit has taken away the presumption of innocence which the defendant enjoys in the constitution.
He said the prosecution accused the defendant of being a ‘journalist’ and should not be granted bail. He said his client was not who the prosecution claimed he was.
Adeyanju wondered how the prosecution would assume that practicing journalism has now become a crime and an offence in Nigeria and not bailable.
He said the proof of evidence before the court did not support the trumped-up treason charge brought against his client. He also raised an objection to the claim by the prosecution that the defendant was a serial offender and should be denied bail. He added that no evidence was before the court to support the claim.
The judge after listening to the arguments adjourned the case to September 27 for ruling on the bail application.