A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Ayokule Faji’ on Friday remanded four persons over alleged cyberstalking and spreading of false information aimed at insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Guaranty Trust Holding Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

Justice Faji remanded the four accused persons, Precious Eze, male (38), Olawale Rotimi male (47), Rowland Olonishu and Seun Odunlami in Ikoyi Correctional facility after they were arraigned before the court on a two count charge of Cyberstalking and spreading false information by men of the Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Police had in the amended charge dated September 26, 2024, alleged among others, that the four defendants, sometimes in August 2024 in Lagos, did conspire among 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 four defendants were also alleged to have knowingly sent false massages or publications on 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, 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.

When the matter came up for trial on Friday, Police prosecutor from SFU, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, leading Mr. Justine Enang, told the court that the prosecution has a two count amended charge and prayed the court to allow the charge to be read so that the defendants could take their plea.

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

However, 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 had a motion for bail on behalf of two of the defendants and was ready to move same.

Jackson objected to 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 Owolabi to file a proper bail application that would be responded to by the prosecution if they so wish.

Consequently Justice Faji’ adjourned the matter till October 4 for trial.