The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will on October 14 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.
Justice Ayokunle Faji fixed the date after the police prosecutor, Emmanuel Jackson and the defence counsel, O A Afolabi, argued for and against the bail applications filed on behalf of the defendants.
The four men, Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi male, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, were arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of cyberstalking and spreading false information by the Police.
The Special Fraud Unit, Milverton of the Lagos State Police Command had told the judge that the 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 police had also claimed that the defendants knowingly sent false messages or publications in social media, through a computer or network to the general 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, et. c): Ac,2015, an s amended in 2024.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, 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 the judge to dismiss the applications because the defendants are a ‘flight risk’ and were likely to tamper with the evidence in the case.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Faji adjourned to October 14 for ruling, he also ordered that the defendants should remain in custody pending the determination of their bail applications.