A Tragedy and Travesty: GT Bank Vs. Journalism

Opinion:

BY ABIODUN BAIYEWU

Global Rights is appalled by the travesty of justice and calls for an end to the intimidation and continued detention of four journalists: Olurotimi Olawale, Precious Eze Chukwunonso, Roland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, noting that they have unjustly remained “wards” of the Nigerian criminal justice system since September 2024 till date for the “crime” of practicing journalism.

This shameful saga is compounded by the fact that their chief persecutor—a major Nigerian commercial bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)- has turned a blind eye to its complicity in the violation of the human rights of these journalists. It seems the bank which is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange has forgotten that it owes a fiduciary duty to its shareholders to respect human rights and engender public goodwill. Rather, this institution has exploited its power and connections to weaponize the criminal justice system against these members of the Fourth Estate, marking a disturbing escalation in the suppression of press freedom in Nigeria.

This case highlights an alarming trend of the misuse of legal instruments by powerful individuals and institutions to attack journalists and civic actors who expose unflattering truths. As demonstrated in both the Dele Farotimi case and the plight of these journalists, this unethical practice, which underlies a blatant disregard for the rule of law, underscores an undemocratic message: dissent will not be tolerated and the powerful are at liberty to weaponize instruments of the state, especially enforcement to subvert justice and crush citizens who dare paint unflattering portraits of them.

Nigeria is a democracy—at least in principle—a constitutional republic where the right to freedom of the press (Section 22) and freedom of expression (Section 39) are enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). These provisions mandate the press to hold power accountable and empower citizens to express themselves freely. Yet, laws like the Cybercrime Act of 2015 (as amended) and outdated criminal defamation statutes have been wielded to crush dissent, silence critics, and further shrink the civic space. It is our considered opinion that these laws are inconsistent with constitutional guarantees and must be declared void to the extent of their inconsistency.

The charges against these journalists range from making “false and misleading allegations” to allegedly causing “harm” to GTBank’s reputation – are rooted in an authoritarian misuse of the Cybercrimes Act and Nigeria’s criminal code. It is terrifying that if they are convicted, they face draconian penalties, including up to 14 years in prison.

It is important for all well-meaning Nigerians, especially the government, to recognize this genre of impunity and demand an immediate stop to them. As 2025 unfolds, the Nigerian judiciary, legislature, and law enforcement must prioritize the protection of press freedom and end their complicity in the erosion of Nigeria’s democratic values. Based on the foregoing, we demand the following:

The Immediate Release of All Four Journalists: These journalists must be released unconditionally. GTBank and its CEO must drop all charges and compensate the journalists for their unlawful detention and reputational harm.

Judicial Accountability: The Chief Justice of Nigeria must mandate the judiciary to dismiss criminal cases that blatantly violate constitutionally protected rights to free expression and press freedom.

Repeal of Oppressive Laws: The National Assembly and State Legislatures must repeal laws criminalizing defamation. Defamation is a civil matter and should not be weaponized to silence critics.

Law Enforcement Reform: The Inspector General of Police and law enforcement agencies must resolve not to waste resources pursuing cases stemming from personal vendettas and attempts to suppress dissent.

The Nigerian Constitution is clear: no law or action that infringes on the rights of the press or free expression should stand. Consequently, we call on all stakeholders to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to democracy by ending the persecution of journalists and protecting the fundamental freedoms that uphold a vibrant civic space. Let this be our charge at the start of a new year.

*Abiodun Baiyewu is the Executive Director, Global Rights