The Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a directive instructing its members to close all personal accounts held with Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), effective immediately.
This decision follows the continued detention of Seun Odunlami, a member of the council, over an alleged investigative report involving GTCO and its CEO, Segun Agbaje.
Odunlami, along with three others, was reportedly arrested in a manner described as “gestapo” and has been held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for more than a month.
Efforts to secure bail have reportedly been challenging, raising concerns within the journalist community.
Speaking at the NUJ council secretariat in Iwe-Irohin, Abeokuta, on Monday, the council’s chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, expressed dismay over the prolonged detention, stating that Odunlami’s case involved charges considered bailable.
“Being in detention for over seven weeks is against their fundamental human rights,” he emphasized.
Olanrewaju urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to revisit the provisions of the Cybercrime Act, highlighting how the law has often been used to stifle media freedom with what he called “frivolous charges in courts.”
In a poignant statement, Olanrewaju conveyed his frustration, saying, “I stand before you with a heavy heart, compelled to address a deeply troubling matter involving the abduction and continued detention of an individual who is unjustly held under dubious circumstances.”
He further criticized the manner of Odunlami’s arrest, noting, “It appears that the very institutions that are supposed to protect our citizens are being manipulated for personal agenda.”
He continued, “This case, which we believe is characterized by a clear abuse of power, reveals a concerning trend where individuals are detained not based on lawful grounds, but rather through the influence of certain powerful entities”.
“We must recognize that the use of police forces to enforce such actions is not just an infringement of rights, but a grave infraction on the principles of justice and democracy.”
Olanrewaju stressed the injustice of Odunlami’s detention despite bailable charges, remarking, “It is important to stress that this individual is facing charges that are bailable, yet they remain trapped in a web of unlawful custody that violates their rights and undermines our justice system.”
In addition to directing journalists to close their GTCO accounts, he also called upon other state councils to join in the campaign. “I hereby call on all journalists in Ogun state to close down their various accounts in GTbank. This also includes all chapels under the Ogun state council. I also call on other state councils to join us in this struggle to free our members,” he declared.
Olanrewaju however appealed for support from the public and stakeholders, stating, “As we bring this issue to light, we urge anyone with information or influence to stand up against this injustice. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all individuals receive fair treatment under the law, regardless of their circumstances or affiliations.”
