After Guarantee Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and its leadership sent a notice of pardon to the Federal High Court in Lagos, four bloggers who were accused of cyberstalking GTCO, its CEO, and its management received a reprieve today when the Bank retracted the criminal charge that the police had brought against them after coming to an agreement with the accused.
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The trial court, presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji, struck out the case after the prosecution’s attorney, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, SAN, said in court that he wanted to dismiss the charge and issue a notice of pardon. Officers from the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos, charged the four bloggers—Precious Eze, a 38-year-old man; Olawale Rotimi, a 47-year-old man; Rowland Olonishuwa; and Seun Odunlami—in court under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act.
The Federal High Court in Lagos expressly charged them with disseminating misleading information regarding GTCO Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje. Chief Aribisala, SAN, the prosecuting attorney, informed the court when the case went to trial today that the prosecution and GTCO, the nominal complainants, had finally given in to the defendants’ request for a second opinion.
The defendants have turned themselves up and committed to righting the wrongs that resulted in their prosecution, according to Aribisala, SAN. He went on to say that the bank (GTCO) is open to a friendly resolution of the issue on the parameters agreed upon, and that the Guild of Editors has also stepped in and advocated on their behalf.
The prosecution further stated that all of the defendants voluntarily consented and signed the agreement outlining the terms of the settlement. “The defendants have promised to restitute and to further take out publications to right the wrong, there is no gain saying they are remorseful and have agreed not to use their blogs for publishing wrong, malicious or wrong information.”
The bloggers have consented to issue unconditional apologies in three national publications as part of the settlement terms, Ajibola, SAN, stated. “We appeal that the court approves the document containing the terms as agreed in the deed of settlement so that they can go back to their families after spending six months in the custody of the Nigeria Correction Services.” he added. A O. Afolabi, the defendants’ attorney, stated in his submission that he does not oppose to the accusation being dropped and that he and the defendants have signed the paper.
After hearing from the parties, Justice Faji declared that the parties must abide by the terms of the settlement as stated in the deed. Then he hit the charge out. As you may remember, the police, in an amended charge dated September 26, 2024, held among other things that the four defendants conspired to commit a felony, specifically cyberstalking, in Lagos occasionally in August 2024.
This offence is punishable under section 27 of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024. Additionally, it was alleged that the defendants intentionally sent false messages or publications to the general public via social media, a computer, or a network, such as “EFCC, FRIS storms GTBanks over Segun Agbaje’s N1 trillion scam” and “Whistle Blowers expose Segun Agbaje Nepotism, power play, enrich him and sister, Kofo Dosekunni,” among other publications, with the intent to offend Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guarantee Trust Holding Company Plc, or to cause him criminal intimidation, annoyance, III-will, needless anxiety, injury, or hatred. As a result, the defendants violated section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition/prevention, etc.) Act. 2015, as amended in 2024.
