Cyberstalking: GTCO Pardons Bloggers After Apology

Following the notice of pardon from Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and its leadership to the Federal High Court, Lagos, reprieve today came the way of four bloggers who were charged for cyberstalking GTCO, the CEO and its management as the Bank withdrew the criminal charge filed against them by the police after reaching terms of the settlement with them (the accused).

With the notice of pardon and desire to withdraw the charge announced in court by the prosecution counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, SAN, the trial court presided by Justice Ayokunle Faji consequently struck out the charge.

The four bloggers, Precious Eze, male (38), Olawale Rotimi, male (47), Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami, were charged before the court under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos.

They were explicitly charged before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for spreading false information about GTCO Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

When the matter came up for trial Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, told the court that the prosecution and the nominal complainants GTCO had finally succumbed to the defendants‘ plea to have another look at the matter from a different perspective.

Aribisala, SAN, said the defendants have surrendered and agreed to ameliorate the wrongs that led to their prosecution.

He added that the Guild of Editors has also intervened and pleaded on their behalf. The bank (GTCO) can settle the matter amicably under the agreed-upon terms.

The prosecutor added that each defendant willingly agreed and appended their signatures on the settlement terms document.

“The defendants have promised to restitute and to further take out publications to right the wrong; there is no gain in saying they are remorseful and have agreed not to use their blogs for publishing wrong, malicious or wrong information.“

Ajibola, SAN, added that under the settlement terms, the bloggers have agreed to tender unreserved apologies to three national newspapers.

“We appeal that the court approves the document containing the terms as agreed in the deed of settlement so that they can go back to their families after spending six months in the custody of the Nigeria Correction Services,“ he said.

Counsel to the defendants, A O Afolabi, said in his submission that he did not object to the withdrawal of the charge, adding that he and the defendants appended their signatures to the document.

Justice Faji, after listening to the parties, ruled that they must comply with the terms of the agreement as contained in the deed of settlement.

He then struck out the charge.

It would be recalled that the Police, in an amended charge dated September 26, 2024, held, among other things, that the four defendants conspired amongst themselves to commit a felony, namely cyberstalking, sometime in August 2024 in Lagos, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.

The defendants were also said to have knowingly sent false messages or publications in social media, through a computer or network to the general public as follows: „EFCC, FRIS storms GTBanks over Segun Agbaje‘s N1 trillion scam“ and „Whistle Blowers expose Segun Agbaje Nepotism, power play, enrich him and sister, Kofo Dosekunni“ among other publications, to insult the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje or the purpose of causing criminal intimidation, annoyance, III-will, needless anxiety, injury or hatred to him and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition/prevention, etc) Act. 2015, as amended in 2024.