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Posted By OgaDeyVex On March 14th, 2025

Four bloggers accused of cyberstalking Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, have regained their freedom after spending six months in custody.

GTCO on Thursday withdrew its criminal charges police filed against them following a settlement agreement.

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, struck out the case after the prosecution informed the court of the settlement.

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

They were specifically accused of spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company  Plc and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

When the matter came up on Thursday for trial, the prosecuting counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, SAN, told Justice Faji that the prosecution and the nominal complainants, GTCO, had finally succumbed to the defendants’ pleas to have another look at the matter with other perspectives.

He noted that the bloggers had expressed remorse and agreed to make amends for their actions.

According to Aribisala, the settlement involved the intervention of the Guild of Editors and the bank (GTCO) to have the matter amicably settled under the terms agreed.

The prosecutor added that each of the defendants had willingly agreed and appended their signatures on the document containing the terms of the settlement.

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

Ajibola, SAN, added that under the terms of the settlement, the bloggers had agreed to tender unreserved apologies in 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 for the defendants, A O Afolabi, in his submission, said he was not objecting to the withdrawal of the charge, adding that he and the defendants appended their signatures on the document.

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

He then struck out the charge.

PUNCH Metro recalls that the police had in the amended charge dated September 26, 2024, alleged among others that the four defendants, sometime in August 2024, in Lagos, conspired amongst 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 defendants were also alleged to have knowingly sent false messages or publications on social media, through a computer or network to the general public as follows: “EFCC, FRIS storm GTBank over Segun Agbaje’s N1 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.

Source: https://punchng.com/gtco-withdraws-cyberstalking-charges-against-bloggers/