Lagos Court Re-Arraigns 4 Bloggers for Cyberstalking GTCO

False Social Media Posts Land 4 Bloggers in Court Over GTCO Allegations

This development highlights the severity of the allegations and potential consequences for those involved.

Four Nigerian bloggers face cyberstalking, extortion charges for spreading false info about Guaranty Trust Holding Company, CEO Segun Agbaje & Central Bank of Nigeria. Defendants plead not guilty, remanded pending bail hearing. Case adjourned till Oct 24, 2024.

Four Nigerian bloggers - Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami - were re-arraigned in court yesterday over fresh charges related to alleged cyberstalking and spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) on social media. They're facing a 10-count charge, including conspiracy, cyberstalking, false publication, extortion, threat, and loss of shares and market value, as preferred by the Police.

The bloggers were detained at Ikoyi Correctional Centre and presented with modified counts of cyberstalking and publishing false information by officers from the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos. This development highlights the increasing focus on combating cybercrimes and protecting individuals and organizations from online harassment and misinformation in Nigeria.

The four Nigerian bloggers, Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, were initially arraigned on September 27, 2024, for allegedly cyberstalking and spreading false information about Segun Agbaje, the CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC. They faced two counts of cyberstalking and false publications aimed at insulting Agbaje. After pleading not guilty, Justice Ayokunle Faji ordered their remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

However, in a recent turn of events, the police prosecutor, Ajibola Aribisala, announced that the charges against the defendants had been amended to 10 counts. The amended charges include conspiracy, cyberstalking, false publication, extortion, threat, and loss of shares and market value. This development highlights the severity of the allegations and the potential consequences for the defendants.

It's worth noting that the defendants were initially accused of sending false messages or publications on social media, including claims of a “$1 trillion scam” and “nepotism” involving Agbaje. The Cybercrimes Act of 2015, as amended in 2024, prohibits such activities, and the defendants may face significant penalties if convicted.

The prosecutor, Ajibola Aribisala, revealed that he had obtained a fiat from the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the case against the four bloggers - Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami. However, Justice Faji struck out the initial charges, paving the way for fresh charges to be presented. Aribisala promptly requested the court's permission to read the new charges to the defendants.

Aribisala alleged that the defendants, along with others still at large, conspired to commit the alleged offenses. According to him, the incident took place in August 2024, within Lagos State. The defendants are accused of cyberstalking and spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC and its CEO, Segun Agbaje.

The prosecution team, led by Aribisala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and supported by Olaotan Ajose-Adeogun (SAN), is determined to prove the defendants' culpability in the alleged cybercrimes. The case highlights the increasing focus on combating cybercrimes and protecting individuals and organizations from online harassment and misinformation in Nigeria.

Prosecutor Ajibola Aribisala alleged that four defendants conspired to cyberstalk and spread false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company, its management, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Nigeria's banking system through various social media platforms, aiming to incite lawlessness. These allegations were knowingly false and intended to cause widespread disruption.

Aribisala further stated that the defendants' goal was to exploit these false claims to extort Guaranty Trust Holding Company. This serious accusation underscores the severity of the alleged crimes and potential consequences for those involved.

Aribisala claimed that the defendants' actions contravened multiple sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, as amended, including Sections 27 (1) (a), (b), 24 (1)(b), and 24 (2) (c) (ii). Furthermore, the offenses are punishable under Sections 422, 507, and 408 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended.

This case highlights the serious consequences of cyberstalking and spreading false information, which can have far-reaching impacts on individuals, organizations, and the economy. Cyberstalking involves using electronic means to harass, intimidate, or threaten others, and can include actions like sending harassing emails or messages, creating false websites, or stealing identities.

The four defendants, accused of cyberstalking and spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company, its management, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the entire banking system in Nigeria, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Faji has ordered that they be remanded at the correctional centre until their bail applications are filed and heard.

Earlier in the proceedings, the defendants' counsel, Olakunle Afolabi, expressed objections to the charges and requested time to review the fresh amended charges. Afolabi also stated that if the defendants were arraigned on the new charges, he would apply for their bail orally. However, Justice Faji declined to allow an oral bail application, requiring a formal written submission instead.

This development highlights the severity of the allegations and potential consequences for those involved. The case underscores the importance of combating cybercrimes and protecting individuals and organizations from online harassment and misinformation in Nigeria.

Prosecutor Ajibola Aribisala, a human rights lawyer, expressed concern for the defendants' liberty, prompting defense counsel Olakunle Afolabi to withdraw his objection. The amended charges were then read to the defendants.

Justice Faji directed the prosecution to file the proof of evidence by the next adjourned date. The case was subsequently adjourned until October 24, 2024, to allow the defense to file a bail application and serve the prosecution.

This adjournment sets the stage for the next phase of the trial, where the defense will seek bail for the defendants and the prosecution will present its evidence. The outcome will determine the fate of the four bloggers accused of cyberstalking and spreading false information.