The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Isaac Bristol, an alleged whistleblower accused of illegally accessing and sharing classified government documents.
The bail, set at N5 million, was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, September 27, 2024, during a case brought against Bristol by the Nigeria Police Force.
Bristol was arrested for allegedly obtaining and publishing sensitive government documents, in violation of cybercrime and money laundering laws. His arrest was first announced by the police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who stated that Bristol’s actions posed a serious threat to government integrity.
The defendant, Isaac Bristol, was formally arraigned on September 3, 2024, on charges of unlawfully obtaining and distributing classified federal documents and tampering with evidence. The prosecution alleged that Bristol shared information claiming that President Bola Tinubu had authorized the release of N24.1 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) through Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, later increasing the claim to N90 billion.
Bristol denied all charges against him. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, applied for bail, arguing that his client is entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Adeyanju requested that the court grant bail under favorable conditions, citing Bristol’s commitment to appear for trial.
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The police prosecutor, Simon Lough, SAN, opposed the bail application, arguing that the severity of the alleged offenses made Bristol a flight risk, and there was a high likelihood he would evade trial.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite acknowledged that bail is a constitutional right unless there is a substantial reason to believe the defendant may avoid trial or tamper with evidence. He emphasized the importance of balancing justice for both the defense and prosecution.
After considering the arguments, the judge granted Bristol N5 million bail with specific conditions. These conditions include providing a surety of the same amount, a responsible citizen whose tax clearance certificate and address must be verified by the court. Bristol is also required to submit his international passport to the court.
Justice Nwite warned that failure to meet these bail conditions would result in the revocation of bail. Until Bristol fulfills these requirements, he will remain in custody at the Correctional Service.
The case is set for trial on November 5, 2024. Bristol was initially arrested by police on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.
