The case between Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) is currently making waves. The individuals were recently retried on a ten-count charge relating to the alleged publication of false allegations through various social media platforms against GTCO.
The case highlights charges such as conspiracy, cyberstalking, publishing false and misleading information, extortion, uttering threats and attempting to cause loss of shares and stock market value.
At their first appearance on September 27 before Justice Ayokunle Faji, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite this, Justice Faji ordered their detention at the remand centre.
At Monday’s hearing, Prosecutor Ajibola Aribisala (SAN) informed the court that he had a fresh charge of ten counts against the defendants. He obtained leave from the Inspector General of Police to proceed with the case and requested the court to read the charges again.
Once again, the defendants pleaded not guilty. The court ordered their continued detention pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Faji adjourned the case to October 24 and also asked the prosecutor to file his evidence in support. Defence counsel, Olakunle Afolabi, objected to the fresh charges, explaining that he had only just been informed and needed time to consider the amended charges.
In response, the prosecutor, as a human rights lawyer, stressed his concern for the rights and freedoms of the defendants. He therefore read the amended charges to the defendants.
According to the indictment, the defendants and others conspired to commit the alleged offences last August in Lagos.
They are accused of conspiring to commit cyberbullying and publishing false, misleading and unsubstantiated allegations against GTCO and its management. It is alleged that the defendants made false publications with the aim of damaging the reputation of the company and the banking system as a whole.
This case raises important questions about the responsibility and ethics in the use of social media, as well as the potential consequences of defamatory publications. It highlights the need for each of us to be vigilant about what we post online and the impact it may have on others.