Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, condemned the actions of the Nigerian authorities.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a global non-profit organization advocating for press freedom, has called for the immediate release of four Nigerian journalists arrested over allegations tied to a report on an alleged N1 trillion fraud involving Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
The journalists—Olurotimi Olawale, editor of National Monitor; Precious Chukwunonso, publisher of a private news platform; Rowland Olonishuwa, a reporter for the Herald in Kwara State; and Seun Odunlami, publisher of Newsjaunts—were arrested in September. The detentions began on September 20, with Olawale and Chukwunonso, and continued with Olonishuwa and Odunlami’s arrests on September 25.
On September 27, the four were charged with violating sections 24(1)(b) and 27 of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, related to a report they published alleging fraud involving Segun Agbaje, the CEO of GTB. Despite pleading not guilty, the journalists were remanded at a Lagos correctional facility pending a bail hearing scheduled for October 4.
Although the authorities pressured the journalists to remove the articles in question, the Nigerian House of Representatives has since announced an investigation into the case. Meanwhile, the charges against the journalists have been expanded to include 10 counts, accusing them of making “false and misleading allegations” with the intent to extort and damage the bank’s reputation.
Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, condemned the actions of the Nigerian authorities. “The additional charges against these journalists underscore the growing criminalization of the press in Nigeria. The authorities should release them immediately and allow journalists to operate freely,” Quintal said.
As of now, the four journalists remain in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
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