Primate Ayodele Urges GTCO, Segun Agbaje To Drop Charges Against Detained Journalists

LAGOS, NIGERIA – Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has called for the withdrawal of the legal charges against four journalists currently facing trial over alleged cyberstalking and defamation. Speaking at his annual Thanksgiving Ceremony in Lagos, Ayodele appealed to Segun Agbaje, Group CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), to show compassion and allow the journalists to reunite with their families.

“These journalists should not be subjected to unnecessary hardship. Justice should not be used as a weapon to silence the press,” Ayodele stated.

He urged Agbaje to resolve any grievances through peaceful means instead of prolonged legal battles that infringe on the journalists’ fundamental rights.

The journalists – Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami – have been detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos since their arrests in September 2024 by the Special Fraud Unit.

They are accused of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and publishing false allegations against GTCO and its CEO.

Despite their legal team’s appeals, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, led by Justice Ayokunle Faji, denied their bail application, thereby extending their detention.

The trial is set to resume on February 19 and 20, 2025, respectfully.

Primate Ayodele further cautioned against using legal tactics to intimidate journalists, emphasizing that press freedom is vital for democracy.

He called on GTCO and Agbaje to prioritize dialogue and fairness over legal persecution, urging them to embrace reconciliation.