By Omotayo Toyeeb
The National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Achike Chude, has commended the National President of the Union, Alhassan Yahya, along with the Lagos and Ogun State Councils of the union, for their relentless efforts in securing the release of four journalists who were detained for over six months on allegations of defamation by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO).
The journalists Precious Eze and Olawale Rotimi, based in Lagos; Rowland Olonishuwa, based in Kwara; and Seun Odunlami, based in Ogun state were arrested in September 2024 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) for alleged cyberstalking and defamation under the controversial Cybercrime Law.
Their prolonged detention at the Ikoyi Prison sparked outrage among media rights groups and advocates of press freedom.
Following intense advocacy and diplomatic efforts at both the national and state levels, the case was eventually settled amicably. Lead counsel to GTCO, Chief A.A. Aribisala, informed Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, that an agreement had been reached between the bank and the journalists, leading to the court striking out the case.
Chude praised the intervention of NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, whose strategic engagements with state and non-state actors were instrumental in resolving the matter.
He also lauded the Lagos and Ogun NUJ Councils for their unwavering commitment and strategic pressure, which contributed significantly to the journalists’ release.
“The Lagos and Ogun Councils of the NUJ demonstrated true solidarity and professionalism in standing by their colleagues. Their actions reaffirm the strength of the union and the importance of collective action in defending press freedom,” Chude said.
He called on journalists to reflect on the incident and uphold the highest standards of the profession, stressing the need to balance investigative rigor with ethical responsibility.
Chude further emphasized the need for a review of the Cybercrime Law to eliminate provisions that threaten press freedom and freedom of expression.
