GTBank Alleged Cyberstalking: We’re Coerced To Write Statements Involuntarily, Journalists Tell Court
LAGOS – Four journalists standing trial before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, in the alleged cyberstalking and defamation case filed by Guaranty Trust Bank, (GTBank), have narrated how they were coerced by police to write statements without access to legal representatives.
The defendants in suit number FHC/L/774C/2024 insisted that despite request to consult their lawyers, the Police forced them to write indicting statement, threatening to deny them custody leave except they comply.
It would be recalled that, the four journalists – Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami, were arrested in September, 2024, by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, following a petition by GTCO bordering on defamation and cyberstalking.
In their argument, the defence legal team including Barr. Olakunle Afolabi and Adebisi Adeniyi also objected to the admittance of the statements as evidence, arguing that their clients’ statements were taken involuntarily and under coercion.
Earlier, the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Yaqoub Sule, during the cross examination, said the suspects wrote their statements under a conducive environment.
He, however, admitted before the court that the suspects wrote the statements without their legal representatives, having told the police that the defendants lawyers were coming.
In his rulling, Justice Ayokunle Faji, who adjourned the trial for Friday, October 25, asked both parties to provide further evidence to validate their claims.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives recently launched an investigation into corruption, falsifying financial reports and money laundering allegations against Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), and the bank itself following a petition submitted by the President of Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, Alhaji Yusuf Kabiru which was presented by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, Delta state, to the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee had reportedly in September directed Guaranty Trust Bank to calculate and remit the Value Added Tax on the commission received from Remita transactions between 2015 and 2022 to the Federal Government.
The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede South/Ede North/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency in Osun State, issued the directive during an ongoing investigation into alleged revenue leakages through the Remita platform.
GTB’s Executive Director, Mr Ahmed Liman, admitted that the bank had not remitted the VAT for eight years.
Also, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), a non governmental organisation on October 3, stormed the National Assembly to seek legislative probe into alleged “corruption, fraud and financial irregularities” in the bank.
The group in a statement signed by Amb. Comr. Adebayo Lion Ogorry, Director of Publicity and Mobilization, said they gathered a report of a private investigator which shows that GTB under the leadership of Segun Julius Agbaje is involved in unsolicited accounts opening, declaration of fictitious profits, round-tripping, money laundering, terrorism financing and use of customers/investors’ funds to pay penalties in the United Kingdom.
The journalists who are currently undergoing trial had brought the issues to the public in their publications.
Trial continues tomorrow.
