By Mike Abbah
The Federal High Court in Ikoyi has struck out the cyberstalking and defamation case filed by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) against four journalists.
The case, marked FHC/L/774C/2024, was dismissed by Justice Ayokunle Faji after the prosecution, led by Chief A.A. Aribisala informed the court that GTCO and the defendants had reached an amicable settlement.
The prosecution confirmed that the allegations against the journalists had been withdrawn, with supporting documents submitted to the court.
The four journalists – Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami – were arrested in September 2024 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, following a petition by GTCO.
DAILY QUERY recalls that The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, non-profit organisation promoting press freedom worldwide, had in October 2024 condemned the continued detention of the four journalists facing cybercrime allegations.
The group recalled that on September 20, police in Lagos arrested Olurotimi Olawale, National Monitor 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 subsequently 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).
While the journalists had pleaded not guilty and were remanded at a Lagos correctional center, pending a bail hearing that was scheduled for October 4, the police compelled them to take down their articles.
The journalists were yet to be released on bail, when the charges against them were amended to 10-counts.
The new charges included 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 then, 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.”
The House of Representatives, along the line, ordered a full investigation into the matter.
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*GOtv, DStv price increases: Court restrains FCCPC from taking administrative steps against MultiChoice*
By Mike Abbah
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday restrained the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from taking “any administrative steps” against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited following its DStv and GOtv price increases.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order in an ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s lawyer, Moyosore J. Onibanjo (SAN), against the FCCPC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025.
It could be recalled that the FCCPC had summoned MultiChoice Nigeria to provide explanations regarding the price review.
The Commission had directed the company’s Chief Executive Officer to appear for an investigative hearing on February 27, 2025, raising concerns over frequent price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV industry.
The FCCPC also issued a stern warning, stating that failure to justify the price adjustment or comply with fair market principles would lead to regulatory sanctions.
In the ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s legal team, led by Onibanjo, the pay-TV company sought an order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC and its officers from carrying out the threatened prosecution of MultiChoice, as communicated via a letter dated March 3, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
MultiChoice also prayed for: “An order restraining the FCCPC and its officers from issuing any further directive or taking any steps capable of disrupting the business activities of MultiChoice pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.”
“An order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC, its agents, servants, or privies from sanctioning or penalizing MultiChoice (the applicant) in any manner whatsoever in relation to its price increase pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.”
Citing the grounds for the application, Onibanjo submitted that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where prices of goods and services are not regulated.
He argued that the FCCPC Act and other enabling laws do not grant the Commission the authority to regulate prices or require businesses to seek approval before adjusting the cost of their services.
He added that MultiChoice had communicated its intention to increase prices via a letter dated February 21, 2025, and that the FCCPC, in a letter dated February 27, 2025, ordered the pay-TV company to suspend its planned price increment.
Following this, he stressed that MultiChoice filed a suit on March 3, 2025, challenging, among other things, the FCCPC’s power to regulate prices or suspend its price adjustment.
“The applicant, after filing the suit, proceeded with the planned price increase,” Onibanjo stated.
The senior lawyer told the court that despite the pending suit, the FCCPC threatened to prosecute MultiChoice via a letter dated March 3, 2025, if it failed to provide reasonable justification for disregarding the directive to suspend the price increment.
Premium plan, the highest-tier package, would increase from N37,000 to N44,500 (20% increment).
GOtv subscribers would also be affected, with the Supa Plus plan rising from N15,700 to N16,800, among other adjustments.
In response to these planned increases, the FCCPC summoned MultiChoice Nigeria to provide explanations regarding the price review and later sued the pay-TV company at a Lagos High Court over alleged violations of regulatory directives and obstruction of an ongoing inquiry.
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