Four bloggers regain freedom after six months in custody for cyberstalking GTCO CEO

Four bloggers accused of cyberstalking Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, have been released after spending six months in custody.

Their freedom followed GTCO’s decision to withdraw the criminal charges filed against them by the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, after a settlement agreement was reached.

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

The bloggers—Precious Eze (38), Olawale Rotimi (47), Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—had been charged under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act for allegedly spreading false information about GTCO and its CEO.

During the hearing, prosecuting counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, SAN, informed the court that both the prosecution and GTCO, as the complainant, had reconsidered the case following pleas from the defendants. He noted that the bloggers expressed remorse and agreed to make amends.

Aribisala explained that the resolution was facilitated by the intervention of the Guild of Editors and that all parties signed a settlement agreement. The bloggers also committed to issuing public apologies in three national newspapers as part of the terms.

“The defendants have promised to make restitution and ensure they do not publish false, malicious, or misleading information using their blogs. They have shown remorse and agreed to take corrective measures,” Aribisala stated.

Defense counsel, A.O. Afolabi, confirmed the agreement, stating that both he and the defendants had appended their signatures to the settlement document and did not oppose the withdrawal of charges.

After reviewing the terms, Justice Faji ruled that all parties must comply with the deed of settlement and subsequently struck out the case.

The bloggers had been arrested and charged in September 2024 for allegedly publishing false reports on social media, including claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) raided GTBank over a purported ₦1 trillion fraud linked to Agbaje. They also published allegations of nepotism and power abuse within the company.

The police had charged them under Section 27 and Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended in 2024), accusing them of criminal intimidation, annoyance, and spreading false information.

With the settlement finalized, the bloggers have now been reunited with their families after six months in detention.