Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos has adjourned till October 14 ruling on the bail application filed by four bloggers accused of spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje.
The four bloggers, Precious Eze, male (38), Olawale Rotimi male (47), Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami, were arraigned before the court under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act, by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos.
They were arraigned before the court last Friday, and Justice Ayokule Faji subsequently remanded them at the Ikoyi Correctional Service Centre following their not-guilty plea.
At the resumed trial of the four men their lawyer, Mr O. A. Afolabi informed the court of his pending application for the bail of his clients and urged the court to allow him move the motion.
After moving the motion for the bail of the applicants, Afolabi pleaded with the court to grant them bail in liberal terms, adding that they are ready for their trial.
He further argued that the defendants are not flight risk as alleged in the counter affidavit filed by the prosecution, adding that the defendants can not also tamper with investigation into the matter as the police had already concluded investigation before coming to court.
The prosecution Lead by ACP Emmanuel Jackson leading Mr Justine Enang also moved their counter affidavit and adopted same.
They argued that if bail is granted to the plaintiffs there is likely -hood that the defendants may not come for their trial as it took the police great efforts to track the defendants before they could be brought to court.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Faji adjourned the matter till October 14, for ruling on the bail application. He also ordered that the four bloggers should continue to remain in custody pending the determination of their bail summons.
At the last hearing of the matter, the prosecution came with two witnesses, but could not proceed with trial as they urged the court to give them time to certify the documents just given to them by the investigating Police Officer.
It would be recalled that the Police had in an amended charge dated September 26, 2024, alleged among others that the four defendants, sometimes in August 2024 in Lagos, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: CyberStalking 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 alleged to have knowingly sent false massages or publications in the 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 , for the purpose of insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje or for 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.
The defendants are facing a two two count amended charge filed by the police.
COUNT 1:
That you, Precious Eze ‘m’, Olawale Rotimi ‘m’, Rowland Olonishuwa, Seun Odunlami and others now a large, sometime in August, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Cyber Stalking and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024.
COUNT 2:
That you, Precious Eze ‘m’, Olawale Rotimi ‘m’, Rowland Olonishuwa, Seun Odunlami and others now a large, sometime in August, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, knowingly sent false messages or publications in the social media, through a computer system or network to the general public as follows: “EFCC, FIRS storm GTBANK over Segun Agbaje’s trillion scam” and “Whistleblowers Expose Segun Agbaje nepotism,power play, Enrich Him And Sister Kofo Dosekunni”, among other publications, for the purpose of insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje or for the purpose of causing Criminal intimidation, annoyance, ill-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
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