The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji will on October 14, 2024, decide whether to grant bail to four journalists accused by the police of publishing false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje.
The judge arrived at the date after counsel for the police, Emmanuel Jackson and the defence counsel, O A Afolabi, argued for and against the bail applications filed on behalf of the defendants.
It would be recalled that the journalists, namely; Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, were arraigned before Justice Faji on a two-count charge of cyberstalking and spreading false information by the police.
Specifically, the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Lagos State Police Command had told the judge that the defendants, sometime in August 2024 in Lagos, conspired among themselves to commit a 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 SFU had equally alleged that the defendants knowingly sent false messages or publications in social media, through a computer or network to the public as follows: “EFCC, FRI’s 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 to cause criminal intimidation, annoyance, I’ll – 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, e.t.c): Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
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SEGUN AGBAJE |
But the journalists pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
When the matter came up on Thursday for hearing, Afolabi urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms, arguing that the offences they were charged with were bailable.
On his part, Jackson asked Justice Faji to dismiss the applications because the defendants were a ‘flight risk’ and were likely to tamper with the evidence in the case.
After entertaining contentions from the lawyers, Justice Faji who did not only adjourn until October 14 for ruling, ordered that the defendants should remain in custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
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