Some concerned Nigerian journalists have petitioned prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, seeking his legal intervention over the continued detention of four of their colleagues charged under the Cybercrimes Act.
The detained journalists — Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami — have been in custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility since September 2024.
Their detention followed investigative reports alleging fraudulent activities involving Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, 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 decried what they described as the misuse of legal mechanisms to silence the press.
“These journalists have been unjustly imprisoned since late September 2024, following their investigative reporting on alleged fraudulent activities involving GTCO and the Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje,” the letter read.
The journalists were accused of making allegedly false and misleading allegations on social media with the intent to extort and threaten GTCO’s management.
Despite pleading not guilty, the court denied them bail, reportedly citing them as flight risks.
The petitioners lamented the imbalance in legal representation during the trial, pointing out that GTCO was represented by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), while the detained journalists relied on a single pro bono junior lawyer.
“The legal proceedings appear to be markedly unbalanced,” they stated.
They further expressed concern about the harsh conditions the journalists are enduring at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility, describing them as disproportionate to the charges leveled against them.
“The journalists have been remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Facility, enduring harsh conditions that seem disproportionate to the allegations against them,” the petition noted.
The journalists urged Falana to review the case, assist in securing their release or fair bail conditions, and advocate against the perceived bias in the legal proceedings.
They stressed the broader implications of the case on press freedom in Nigeria.
“This case raises serious questions about press freedom and the potential misuse of legal mechanisms to silence investigative journalism,” the letter added.
The journalists also referenced the involvement of human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, who had earlier advocated their release.
Sowore had previously described the court’s decision to deny bail as “troubling.”
The charges stemmed from reports linking Mr. Segun Agbaje to an alleged N1trillion fraud.
While the police compelled the journalists to delete their articles, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has since announced an investigation into the allegations.
The petitioners called on Falana to “investigate the potential bias in the current legal proceedings and assist in securing legal representation or guidance for these journalists.”
Their plea highlights mounting concerns over the treatment of journalists and the shrinking space for investigative journalism in Nigeria.
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