Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected bail applications from four bloggers accused of blackmailing Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje. The case has been adjourned until January 13 and 14, 2025.
The accused bloggers—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—are facing an amended 10-count charge for allegedly disseminating false information about GTCO and Agbaje via various social media platforms. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges, but bail was denied primarily due to Eze’s status as a repeat offender.
During hearings on November 13 and 14, 2024, Justice Faji emphasized the serious nature of the allegations, which could result in sentences of up to 14 years in prison. He noted that Eze’s history of similar offenses suggested a risk of reoffending if released. Furthermore, the judge pointed out the potential disruption such actions could cause in the banking industry, particularly as some charges involve cross-border internet activities. He also mentioned that the actions of the defendants undermine the authority of regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, which had approved GTCO’s audited financial statements.
In court on Thursday, the defense counsel, O. A. Afolabi, called Eze, the first defendant, to testify about the circumstances surrounding his police statement. Eze recounted his arrest on September 21, 2024, at Gbagada and subsequent detention at the Special Fraud Unit’s office in Ikoyi. He described being interrogated by an officer named Abu and later by Mr. Yakubu, who allegedly pressured him to provide a statement without his lawyer present.
Eze claimed that he was shown a file related to a petition against him and was told that cooperating would lead to a quick resolution. Despite his insistence on having legal representation, he eventually agreed to write a statement under pressure.
When questioned about the authenticity of the recorded statements presented in court, Eze acknowledged that the room shown in the video differed from the one where he was initially interrogated. He explained that the first statement he wrote was simply rephrased in the second statement, leading to a dispute over whether the statements were identical or distinct.
The prosecution, led by Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), challenged Eze’s claims, arguing that the two statements were not merely variations of the same content. The court allowed the prosecution to present video evidence to verify the discrepancies between the statements.
As the trial continues, the prosecution is seeking to prove that Eze’s statements were original and not dictated as he claims. Justice Faji has scheduled the next hearing for further cross-examination of witnesses on January 13 and 14, 2025.
In a previous session, police witness M. Yakubu confirmed his familiarity with international investigative protocols and acknowledged the significance of each component of a statement. He stated that the statements were recorded without the defendants’ legal representatives present, as the defendants had consented to this arrangement.
The defense counsel has requested additional witnesses for cross-examination, but the prosecution has urged the court to require a witness list in advance. Justice Faji has ruled that the defense must provide this list before the next hearing scheduled for December 12, 2024.
