The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday, dismissed the cybercrime case against whistleblower Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, popularly known on his X handle as “PIDOM Nigeria”, over lack of diligent prosecution. 

Mr Tamunobifiri confirmed the development to Peoples Gazette, stating that “the court has finally struck out the case against me due lack of diligent prosecution. I have been in court nine times since last year but the prosecutors have always been absent.”

According to the defendant, who was facing charges for leaking classified government documents, Justice Emeka Nwite acted on the threat he made during a sitting on July 2, 2025, when the judge said he would consider dismissing the case against Mr Tamunobifiri should the prosecution fail to appear at Thursday’s court sitting. 

Despite the ultimatum issued by the court, the prosecutors again failed to honour the latest sitting, prompting Mr Nwite to go ahead with dismissing the case against Mr Tamunobifiri after Barrister David Agbane Amana, who served as an impromptu lawyer for the defendant, reminded the judge about the undertaking he made at the July hearing.

The defendant noted that he was forced to approach Mr Amana to stand as his emergency representative at the last minute after security operatives denied his designated lawyer access into the court.

“The case has been a waste of the court’s time,” Mr Tamunobifiri told The Gazette. “The judge at the last sitting in July, stated that if the prosecutors didn’t show up at today’s hearing, he would strike out the case.”

He added, “On getting to court today, security operatives refused entry to my lawyer, who was sent by my counsel, Seprebofa Oyeghe, to appear on his behalf as he was unavailable. However, I was lucky to get a lawyer (Mr Amana) inside the courtroom. So, I approached him and begged to stand for me, which he did after giving him the details of the case. 

“He proceeded to remind the judge about the promise to strike out the case if the prosecutors refused to show up in today’s hearing and the court agreed with the motion to dismiss the case.”