A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to an alleged whistleblower and online publisher, Isaac Bristol Tamunobifiri, who is accused of illegally accessing classified federal government documents and publishing them.
Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday ordered the defendant to provide the sum of N5 million and one surety in like sum.
The judge ruled that the surety must be a resident of Abuja and depose to an affidavit of means.
He further ordered that the surety must provide evidence of three years of tax clearance with two passport-sized photographs while the defendant must deposit his international passport with the court.
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Tamunobifiri was arraigned on September 3 on nine-count charges for allegedly unlawfully obtaining and distributing classified government documents in contravention of the Official Secret Act, destroying evidence, and contravening relevant money laundering and cybercrime laws valued at N970,000.
Following the non-guilty plea, defence counsel, Deji Adeyanju, applied for bail on liberal terms, stating that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
Lough opposed the bail application, insisting that the nature of the offence does not warrant bail.
The case has been adjourned to November 5 or trial.
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