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CPJ calls for release of four journalists detained over report on alleged fraud in GTB

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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, non-profit organization promoting press freedom worldwide, has condemned the continued detention of four journalists facing cybercrime allegations.

On September 20, police in Lagos arrested Olurotimi Olawale, Nacyber creator 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 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.

They were 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 had pleaded not guilty and were remanded at a Lagos correctional center, pending a bail hearing that was scheduled for October 4.

Although the police compelled the journalists to take down their articles, the house of representatives has announced an investigation into the matter.

The journalistHouse yet to be released on bail, while the charges against them have been 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.

Speaking on their continued 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 emphasizes their commitment to sending a chilling message to journalists across the country.”

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Communal Clash: Ebonyi Gov Sacks Government Appointees, Withdraws Monarch Certificates, Others

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Abakaliki- The Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has visited Okporojo in Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, where five persons were killed and beheaded, many people kidnapped and several properties were razed with fire by unidentified armed men, allegedly from Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area Ebonyi State. 

Following the ugly incident, Governor Nwifuru has ordered the immediate removal from office of all Government appointees from the Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area.

They include Members of the State Executive Council down to Management Committee Members who are from the community.

The Governor also approved the immediate dissolution of the Town Union Executive and Village Heads and withdrawal of the certificate of recognition/ Staff of Office from the traditional ruler.

He directed those affected to immediately hand over government properties in their possession including official Vehicles to the Secretary to the State Government.

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Lagos Monarch Raises Alarm Over Activities of Illegal Traditional Chiefs in Otta – Ikosi Ejinrin

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The olota of Otta -ikosi Ejirin in Ikosi/Ejinrin local Government Development Council {LCDA}, Oba Elias Adedapo Ijelu has raised the alarm over the activities of impostors who are parading themselves as traditional chiefs of the town without the consent of the traditional ruler and the rule guiding obas and chiefs of Lagos state.

The monarch was speaking against the backdrop of the development which was termed barbaric and an affront on the constituted traditional institution as well as state government laws which express the functions of traditional rulers in the obas and chiefs’ law of the state.

He stated the unscrupulous activities of the group have, over the years, affected the progress and peace as well as co-existence of the town as many of them were involved in nefarious and land-grabbing activities.

Oba Omoloro explained that he had on many occasions cautioned the mischiefmakers to desist from the act capable of bringing chaos and making the town governable, noting that the warning usually fell on their deaf ears as they felt they were untouchable.

He further added that it is absurd to learn that mischiefmakers are the ones behind land grabbers in the town by backing the perpetrators of this unscrupulous act and dragging the development in town backwards.

The traditional ruler emphasised that the illegal traditional chiefs have through nefarious acts and land-grabbing activities disobey the Lagos state anti-land-grabbing law established to curtail the menace of land-grabbers in the state.

He noted that he has written several letters to the state government and the police authorities, but nothing tangible was achieved.

“Most of these illegal chiefs have nothing to do for themselves. Rather, they had created a nuisance as surety and signing for landgrabbers in the communities.”

The Lagos State Council obas had also interfered in matters and instructed the particular illegal traditional chief to go back to the traditional ruler and do the needful if he really wanted to be a baale in Otta, Ikosi -ejinrin

Oba Omoloro maintained that part of the reason why the illegality continues is the vacuum the Interregnum period has created before he ascended the throne, noting that the illegality had given mischief-makers undue opportunities to perpetrate illegality.

He called on the Lagos state government, and the Nigeria Police Force to, as a matter of urgency, help restore the rule of law and secure the lives and properties of ordinary citizens in the area.

 

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41 Arrested in Benue Over Alleged Slaughterhouse as Probe Begins

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Benue State authorities have arrested 41 suspects over an alleged slaughterhouse in Makurdi, following viral claims that people were lured and killed there during the Yuletide season.

Police are investigating, while the state government plans to assess the area, citing it as a poorly planned slum with congestion issues.

Confirming the arrests, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the suspects were taken into custody for screening as part of preliminary investigations.

Edet noted that the arrests were aimed at unravelling the circumstances surrounding the allegations and determining the authenticity of claims circulating on social media.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede, said the state government had already planned to visit the area for assessment, describing the location as a densely populated and poorly planned slum.

Providing an update on Sunday via telephone, Mede said, “Actually, we have planned to visit that area because it is a slum area. If you get to the place, you will discover that most people cannot access their homes.”

He explained that the area had become severely congested due to unregulated development and overlapping land claims.

The place is overdeveloped, too choked. All these things are coming out as a result of the railway corporation claiming its lands and the Jukun also claiming their lands,” he said.

Mede further alleged that some individuals were allocating land without government approval, compounding the problem.

“The Jukun people are giving plots of land to individuals without recourse to government input. So, we noticed all these things, and we have been planning to visit the place and do an update of the area,” he added.

He disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia had directed relevant agencies to look into opening up access roads in the area to improve mobility and security.

“We will only go there to see how we can create access roads in the areas that are choked, reduce them, and make the place habitable,” Mede said.

On the specific allegation of a slaughterhouse, the urban development boss said he had not personally seen the facility but acknowledged the need for a thorough assessment.

“I have not seen the alleged slaughterhouse; I only heard about it. I feel it is wise that we assess the area so that in case the governor calls, we can provide a reasonable brief,” he stated.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to establish the facts surrounding the claims, while residents have been urged to remain calm as security agencies continue their work.

 

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