Journalists reveal they were forced to write statements in GTBank defamation trial
Four journalists are on trial at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi over a defamation case brought by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), the parent company of GTBank.
They revealed that the police pressured them to write statements without allowing them to consult their lawyers.
The journalists—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—asserted that the police threatened to deny them custody leave unless they complied with their demands.
They were arrested in September 2024 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) after GTCO accused them of cyberstalking and defamation.
The defense lawyers, Barr. Olakunle Afolabi and Adebisi Adeniyi, challenged the use of these statements as evidence, arguing that they were obtained under duress.
During the trial, ASP Yaqoub Sule, the Investigating Police Officer, claimed the journalists wrote their statements in a suitable environment.
However, he admitted that they did so without their lawyers present, even though the defendants had informed the police that their lawyers were on their way.
Justice Ayokunle Faji has adjourned the trial until Friday, October 25, and asked both sides to provide more evidence to support their claims.
This case comes amid broader investigations into GTCO, including allegations of corruption and financial misconduct against Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer.
These allegations were brought to light by Alhaji Yusuf Kabiru, President of the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, and presented to the House of Representatives by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi from Delta State.
Additionally, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has instructed GTCO to calculate and pay the Value Added Tax on commissions from Remita transactions between 2015 and 2022 to the Federal Government.
The bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Ahmed Liman, admitted they had not paid this tax for eight years.
Moreover, the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), an NGO, called for a legislative investigation into alleged corruption and financial irregularities at GTCO.
They claimed a private investigator’s report indicated serious misconduct under the leadership of Segun Agbaje, including issues like money laundering and falsifying profits.
The journalists currently on trial had explained these issues in their reporting.
