Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos State ordered the remand of four bloggers on Friday for allegedly cyberstalking and publishing fake information with the intention of insulting Segun Agbaje, Chief Executive Officer of Guarantee Trust Holding Company PLC.
The bloggers, Precious Eze (38), Olawale Rotimi (47), Rowland Olonishu, and Seun Odunlami, were detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The defendants were charged with two modified counts of cyberstalking and publishing false information.
Officers from Ikoyi, Lagos’ Police Special Fraud Unit, presented the allegations against them.
Earlier during their hearing, police prosecutor Emmanuel Jackson, who was accompanied by Justin Enang, informed the court that the prisoners’ charges had been changed.
Jackson then asked the court to read the updated charges so that the defendants might enter pleas.
According to an updated charge dated September 26, 2024, the police claimed that in August 2024, the four defendants conspired to commit cyberstalking.
The bloggers were further accused of knowingly using social media to send false messages or publications, including claims that “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 further claimed that these disclosures were created with the intent to offend, intimidate, injure, ill-will, or cause unnecessary distress to Mr. Agbaje.
The crimes committed violated Sections 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as modified in 2024, and Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act.
After hearing the allegations, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Jackson then urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in detention pending the trial. O.A. Afolabi, the defence attorney, did not contest the request for a trial date, although he did seek bail for two defendants.
However, Jackson opposed to providing bail to only two defendants in a joint trial.
The judge also denied the defence’s oral bail application. Justice Faji asked the defence to submit a formal bail application.
As a result, the judge set a trial date of October 4, 2024.
