A non-governmental organisation, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, advocating press freedom has lamented the detention of four journalists over cybercrime allegations.
Officers of the Lagos State Police Command, On September 20, nabbed Olurotimi Olawale, National Monitor newspaper editor, and Precious Chukwunonso, publisher of a privately owned news platform.
On September 25, police arrested Rowland Olonishuwa, a reporter with the Herald newspaper in Kwara state and publisher of News Hub and Seun Odunlami, publisher of Newsjaunts in Ogun state.
On September 27, the four journalists were charged with violating sections 24(1)(b) and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act.
The four newsmen have been arraigned before a Lagos federal court for a report that accused Segun Agbaje, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), of involvement in alleged fraud worth N1 trillion (US$600 million).
The journalists who are currently remanded at a Lagos correctional centre after pleading not guilty will appear before the court for a bail hearing on October 4.
The police have since forced the journalists to expunge their articles as the lower chamber launched an investigation into the matter.
The journalists are still in correctional facility, with the charges levelled against them amended to 10-counts.
The new charges include making “false and misleading allegations” on social media with intent to “extort” and “threaten” the management of GTB, as well as causing “harm” to the bank’s reputation.
In her comment on the detention, Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa programme, said: “Nigerian authorities should release journalists Olurotimi Olawale, Precious Eze Chukwunonso, Roland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami and end the deepening criminalisation of the press.
“Nigerian authorities’ additional charges against these four journalists emphasise their commitment to sending a chilling message to journalists across the country.”
