Precious Eze Chukwunonso, publisher of the privately owned News Platform website, was arrested by police in western Lagos state on September 20, 2024, after publishing a report about alleged corruption. He and three other journalists who covered the same story have been charged on 10 counts and are being detained in Lagos state.
On September 27, Chukwunonso was charged — along with Seun Odunlami, Olurotimi Olawale, and Rowland Olonishuwa — with violating the Cybercrimes Act for reporting that implicated Segun Agbaje, chief executive officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, in alleged fraud worth 1 trillion naira (US$600 million), according to a copy of the charge sheet, reviewed by CPJ.
On October 14, police prosecutors amended the charges to 10 counts of alleged crimes related to publishing and distributing “false” information against the bank, its management, Nigeria’s central bank, and the entire Nigerian banking system, according to a copy of the revised charge sheet, reviewed by CPJ. All four journalists pleaded not guilty.
The charges fall under Sections 24 (1)(b) and (2)(c)(ii) and 27 (1)(a) and (b) of the Cybercrimes Act, as well as Sections 408, 422, and 507 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty on all counts, the maximum penalty would be about 40 years in jail, according to CPJ’s research.
Despite reforms in February, the Cybercrimes Act’s broad definition of offenses leaves journalists vulnerable to prosecution.
The journalists’ bail application was denied on November 13, and the case was adjourned to December 10, according to Dare Akogun, a local journalist following the case.
The police compelled the journalists to take down their articles, while the federal House of Representatives announced an investigation into the bank over fraud allegations.
On October 27, Guarantee Trust Bank’s spokesperson Oyinade Adegite told CPJ by phone that the bank had sought to have the journalists charged with cybercrime for their reporting, which she said was “defamatory.” As of late 2024, Adegite had not responded to CPJ’s further calls and text messages requesting comment.