Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of four bloggers for allegedly engaging in cyberstalking and disseminating false information aimed at defaming the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC, Segun Agbaje.
The bloggers, identified as Precious Eze (38), Olawale Rotimi (47), Rowland Olonishu, and Seun Odunlami, were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre following their arraignment on two amended charges related to cyberstalking and spreading false information.
The charges were brought against them by officers from the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos.
During the arraignment, police prosecutor Emmanuel Jackson, alongside Justin Enang, informed the court of the amended charges and requested that the charges be read aloud to allow the defendants to enter their pleas.
According to the amended charge dated September 26, 2024, the police allege that in August 2024, the four defendants conspired to engage in cyberstalking. They were further accused of using social media to knowingly disseminate false messages, including claims such as “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, FRIS stormed GTBank over Segun Agbaje’s N1 trillion scam” and “Whistleblowers expose Segun Agbaje’s nepotism, power play, enriching himself and his sister, Kofo Dosekunni.”
The prosecution argued that these publications were made with the intent to insult, intimidate, or cause injury, ill-will, or undue anxiety to Mr. Agbaje.
The alleged offenses are said to violate Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, and Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
After the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Jackson requested the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants in custody pending trial.
While the defense counsel, O.A. Afolabi, did not oppose the request for a trial date, he sought bail for two of the defendants. However, Jackson objected, arguing that bail should not be granted to only two defendants in a joint trial.
The court rejected an oral bail application made by the defense, directing them to file a formal bail application instead.
Justice Faji adjourned the case to October 4, 2024, for trial.