The Nigerian Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has filed new charges against four bloggers—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—for allegedly cyberstalking Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), its management, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a 10-count amended charge.
Initially arraigned on September 27, 2024, on two counts of cyberstalking and false publications against GTCO’s CEO, Segun Agbaje, the defendants have now faced expanded charges. After the amended charges were filed, the initial ones were struck out, and the new charges were read to the defendants.
The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred in August 2024, involving the publication of false and unverified information against GTCO and the CBN through social media, intending to harm the reputation of both institutions and disrupt the Nigerian banking system.
The police prosecutor, Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), informed the court that he received a special authorization from the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the case, emphasizing that the defendants had conspired with others still at large. Aribisala accused them of attempting to use misleading and false allegations to damage GTCO’s reputation and influence the market value of its shares.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. Their counsel, Olakunle Afolabi, initially objected to the charges, requesting time to review the new amendments but eventually withdrew his objection. He also sought oral bail for the defendants, which Justice Faji denied, directing that a formal bail application be filed. The judge ordered that the defendants remain in custody at the Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail application.
The prosecution has been directed to submit the proof of evidence by the next hearing, scheduled for October 24, 2024, when the defense is expected to file its bail applications.
