Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has called on Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, to withdraw the ongoing legal case against four journalists currently facing trial over alleged cyberstalking and defamation.
Primate Ayodele made the call at his annual Thanksgiving Ceremony held at INRI Estate, Oke Afa, Lagos.
He emphasized the need for compassion and justice.
The clergymen urged Agbaje to allow the journalists to reunite with their families.
Primate Ayodele cautioned against using legal means to intimidate journalists, stressing that press freedom is a pillar of democracy.
He charged GTCO and Agbaje to demonstrate leadership by embracing dialogue over litigation.
The detained journalists, Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami have been held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre since their arrests in September by the police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi.
They are accused of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and publishing false allegations against GTCO and its CEO.
Despite pleas from their legal counsel, Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi denied their bail application, prolonging their detention.
The case has been adjourned to February 19 and 20, 2025, for the continuation of the trial-within-trial.
