Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Lagos Federal High Court, has adjourned till October 14, to rule on the bail application filed by four men accused of publishing false information about Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

The four men were charged before the court on the alleged offences of conspiracy and Cyberstalking are: Precious Eze, (38), Olawale Rotimi, male (47), Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami.

They were charged before the court by by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos.

The four men have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea of not guilty, the presiding judge, Justice Faji had ordered that they be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Service Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

But at the resumed hearing of the defendants’ bail application last Friday, their lawyer, Mr O. A. Afolabi informed the court that he had served the application on the prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel A. Jackson, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who led Barrister Justine Enang, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

He therefore urged the court to allow him move the bail application.

ACP Jackson, while admitting being served with the defendants’ bail applications his pending applications, vehemently opposed the defendants’ applications for bail.

The prosecution said the defendants are ‘flight risk’ and that they will tamper with the evidence in the charge.

The prosecutor also told the court that they are in court with two witnesses who are ready to testify against the defendants.

Upon adopting the bail application and the opposition filed by the prosecution, Justice Faji adjourned the matter till October 14, for ruling on the bail application. While also ordered that the four men should continue to remain in custody pending the determination of their bail summons.

It would be recalled that the Police in the amended charge dated September 26, 2024, alleged among others that the four defendants, sometimes in August 2024 in Lagos, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: cyberStalking and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended in 2024.

The defendants were also alleged to have knowingly sent false massages or publications in the social media, through a computer or network to the general public as follows “EFCC, FRIS storms GTBanks over Segun Agbaje’s N1 trillion scam” and “Whistle Blowers expose Segun Agbaje Nepotism, power play , enrich him and sister ,Kofo Dosekunni” among other publications , for the purpose of insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje or for the purpose of causing criminal intimidation, annoyance, III-will, needless anxiety, injury or hatred to him and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition/prevention etc) Act. 2015 , as amended in 2024.

At the arraignment of the defendants last Friday, the Police prosecutor, Barrister Emmanuel Jackson, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) who led Barrister Justine Enang, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) told the court that the prosecution has a two count amended charge and pray the court to allow the charge to be read so that the defendants can take their plea

Following the reading of the charge and the defendants plea of not-guilty to same, the prosecutor, Emmanuel Jackson asked the court for a trail date and the remand of the defendants in the facility of the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre pending trial

But counsel to the defendants, Mr O.A Afolabi told the court that why he is not objecting to a trial date as submitted by the prosecution, he added that he has a motion for bail on behalf of two of the defendants and was ready to move same.

Mr Jackson while objecting to the viability of the defendants’ submission to move the bail application for two out of the four defendants in a joint trial.

Also attempts by the defendants’ counsel to move an oral bail application on behalf of the defendants was rejected by the court, as Justice Faji’ urged Mr Owolabi to file a proper bail application that would be responded to by the prosecution if they so wish.

Charge against the defendants read: “That you, Precious Eze ‘m’, Olawale Rotimi ‘m’, Rowland Olonishuwa, Seun Odunlami and others now a large, sometime in August, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Cyber Stalking and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024.

“That you, Precious Eze ‘m’, Olawale Rotimi ‘m’, Rowland Olonishuwa, Seun Odunlami and others now a large, sometime in August, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, knowingly sent false messages or publications in the social media, through a computer system or network to the general public as follows: “EFCC, FIRS STORM GTBANK OVER SEGUN AGBAJE’S TRILLION SCAM” and “WHISTLEBLOWERS EXPOSE SEGUN AGBAJE NEPOTISM, POWER PLAY, ENRICH HIM AND SISTER, KOFO DOSEKUNNI”, among other publications, for the purpose of insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje or for the purpose of causing Criminal intimidation, annoyance, ill-will, needless anxiety, injury or hatred to him, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition/Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.”