Lagos Court Strikes Out Cyberstalking Case Against Four Bloggers

Lagos Court Strikes Out Cyberstalking Case Against Bloggers

A Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out the cyberstalking case against four bloggers accused of spreading false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and its Group CEO, Segun Agbaje. The dismissal followed an out-of-court settlement between the bloggers and GTCO, leading to the withdrawal of charges.

Justice Olayinka Faji ruled on the matter after the prosecution informed the court that both parties had agreed to amicable terms, ending the legal battle that had kept the bloggers in custody for six months.

Lagos Court Strikes Out Cyberstalking Case After Settlement

The four bloggers—Precious Eze (38), Olawale Rotimi (47), Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—were initially arraigned under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos. They were accused of publishing false and defamatory content about GTCO and its CEO.

When the case was brought up for trial, prosecuting counsel Ajibola Aribisala (SAN) stated that GTCO had reconsidered the matter after interventions from media stakeholders, including the Guild of Editors. The bloggers acknowledged their wrongdoing and agreed to the settlement terms, which included publishing public apologies and retractions.

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Lagos Court Strikes Out Cyberstalking Case as Bloggers Agree to Terms

As part of the settlement, the bloggers pledged to:

• Refrain from publishing defamatory content about GTCO, its directors, and officers.
• Educate journalists on ethical reporting and fact-checking.
• Promote factual and positive content about the bank.
• Publish retractions and public apologies in three national newspapers.

The prosecutor requested the court’s approval of the settlement so that the bloggers could be released from custody. The defense counsel, Kunle Afolabi, confirmed his clients’ willingness to comply with the agreement.

After reviewing the terms, Justice Faji struck out the charges, emphasizing that all parties must honor the agreement. The police had initially accused the bloggers of spreading damaging falsehoods, but the case has now been resolved through the settlement.