Lawyers representing Isaac Bristol, a man the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) believes to be PIDOMNigeria, a whistleblower and leak journalist, have filed an ex parte motion seeking his release from federal custody.

The legal team led by Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based lawyer, filed the motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

In the document seen by EQ, the lawyers prayed the court to declare Bristol’s detention illegal and grant him bail in recognition of the legal presumption of his innocence until a guilty verdict is made by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) abducted Bristol from a hotel in Rivers State on August 5 and held him away from his family and lawyers for six days until they flew him to Abuja. He has been detained at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) since.

READ MORE: ‘His Index Finger Not Healing’ — PIDOM’s Health Deteriorates in Detention

His 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.

Copy of motion seen by EQ

The respondents in the motion include 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.

EQ earlier reported how the police tortured, isolated and starved Bristol in detention upon his abduction.

His health has been suffering and he has in particular been nursing an injured finger.

The police allege the crimes he has committed include cybercrime, treasonable felony, breach of the Official Secrets Act and terrorism financing.
The post PIDOM’s Lawyers Sue the Police for Failing To Charge Him to Court for 23 Days appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.