The Nigeria Police on Monday re-arraigned four bloggers—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—on new charges before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The bloggers are accused of cyberstalking and publishing false allegations through social media against Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO).
The defendants now face a 10-count charge, including conspiracy, cyberstalking, false and misleading publications, extortion, threats, and causing a loss of shares and market value, as brought by the police. Initially, they were arraigned on September 27, 2024, on two counts related to cyberstalking and false publications targeting GTCO’s CEO, Segun Agbaje. Following their pleas, Justice Ayokunle Faji ordered their remand at Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
On Monday, police prosecutor Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), accompanied by Olaotan Ajose-Adeogun (SAN), informed the court that the charges had been expanded to 10 counts. He stated that the Inspector General of Police had authorized him to prosecute the case, leading Justice Faji to strike out the original charges.
Aribisala requested the court to read the new charges, accusing the defendants, along with others still at large, of conspiring to cyberstalk and spread false allegations against GTCO, its management, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the entire Nigerian banking system. The publications, made through various social media platforms, allegedly aimed to damage GTCO’s reputation, disrupt the banking system, and cause a significant decline in the company’s market value.
The prosecutor further claimed that the defendants intended to use the false allegations to extort GTCO and its management. He cited violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, and the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty. Justice Faji ordered their continued remand pending the filing and hearing of their bail applications. Defense counsel Olakunle Afolabi initially objected to the fresh charges, requesting time to review them. He also suggested applying for bail orally if the new charges were accepted, but the judge denied the request for an oral bail application.
The judge instructed the prosecution to submit evidence by the next hearing, and the case was adjourned to October 24, 2024, to allow the defense to file the bail application and serve the prosecution.