A group of concerned Nigerian journalists has petitioned renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, seeking his legal intervention regarding the prolonged detention of four of their colleagues. The detained journalists—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—have been held since September 2024 after publishing investigative reports alleging fraudulent activities involving Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO) and its Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje.
In a letter titled “Urgent Appeal for Legal Intervention: Unjust Detention of Four Journalists” and signed by Oluwaseun Faleye (Seunmanuel) and Jide Obafemi, the journalists expressed concerns about the apparent misuse of legal processes to suppress the press.
“These journalists have been unjustly imprisoned since late September 2024, following their investigative reporting on alleged fraudulent activities involving GTCO and its Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje,” the letter stated.
The detained journalists were accused under the Cybercrimes Act of allegedly making false and misleading claims on social media to extort and intimidate GTCO’s leadership. Despite pleading not guilty, the court denied their bail applications, citing concerns that they could flee the country.
The petition highlighted an imbalance in the legal process, with GTCO being represented by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) while the journalists rely on a single junior lawyer offering pro bono services. “The legal proceedings appear to be markedly unbalanced,” the letter emphasized.
Furthermore, the group raised concerns about the conditions in which the journalists are being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility. “The journalists have been remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Facility, enduring harsh conditions that are disproportionate to the allegations leveled against them,” the petitioners added.
The journalists urged Falana to review the case and assist in securing either their release or fair bail conditions. They also stressed the case’s broader implications for press freedom in Nigeria, stating, “This case raises significant concerns about press freedom and the misuse of legal tools to silence investigative journalism.”
The letter also referenced human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, who has been advocating for the detained journalists. In an earlier communication to Sowore, the concerned journalists described the court’s decision to deny bail as “deeply troubling.”
The charges stemmed from reports linking Mr. Segun Agbaje to an alleged N1 trillion fraud. While the police pressured the journalists to take down their published articles, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has since initiated an investigation into the fraud allegations.
In closing, the petitioners called on Falana to investigate potential bias in the legal proceedings and assist in securing proper legal representation for the journalists.
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Source: Chronicles Reporters