Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High in Lagos State, on Friday, ordered the remand of four bloggers for allegedly cyberstalking and spreading false information aimed at insulting the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC, Segun Agbaje.
The bloggers who are, Precious Eze (38), Olawale Rotimi (47), Rowland Olonishu, and Seun Odunlami, were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The defendants were arraigned on two two-count amended charges bordering on cyberstalking and disseminating false information.
The charges were brought against them by officers from the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Earlier during their arraignment the police prosecutor Emmanuel Jackson, leading Justin Enang, informed the court that there was an amended charge against the defendants.
Jackson then requested the court to read the amended charges so the defendants could enter their pleas.
According to an amended charge dated September 26, 2024, the police alleged that in August 2024, the four defendants conspired to commit cyberstalking.
The offences committed contravened Sections 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024 and Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
After the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Jackson then asked the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants in custody pending trial.
The defence counsel O.A. Afolabi did not oppose the request for a trial date but sought bail for two of the defendants.
But Jackson objected to granting bail to only two defendants in a joint trial.
END.
