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“We Were Forced To Write Under Duress,” Journalists Reveal In GTBank Defamation Trial

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Four journalists standing trial before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, in the alleged cyberstalking and defamation case filed by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), holding company of GTBank, have narrated how they were coerced by the police to write statements without access to legal representation. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The defendants in suit number FHC/L/774C/2024 insisted that despite their requests to consult with their lawyers, the police forced them to write statements, threatening to deny them custody leave unless they complied.

It will be recalled that 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 accusing them of defamation and cyberstalking.

In their argument, the defence legal team, including Barr. Olakunle Afolabi and Adebisi Adeniyi objected to the admittance of the statements as evidence, arguing that the statements were taken involuntarily and under coercion.

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Earlier, during cross-examination, the IPO, ASP Yaqoub Sule, claimed that the suspects wrote their statements in a conducive environment. However, he admitted before the court that the suspects wrote the statements without their legal representatives present, stating that the defendants had informed the police that their lawyers were on their way.

In his ruling, Justice Ayokunle Faji adjourned the trial to Friday, October 25, and asked both parties to provide further evidence to validate their claims.

It should be noted that the House of Representatives recently launched an investigation into allegations of corruption, falsification of financial reports, and money laundering against Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), and the bank itself. The investigation followed a petition submitted by Alhaji Yusuf Kabiru, President of the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, and presented by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi from Delta State to the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee reportedly directed Guaranty Trust Holding Company to calculate and remit the Value Added Tax on commissions received from Remita transactions between 2015 and 2022 to the Federal Government.

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The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede South/Ede North/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency in Osun State, issued the directive during an ongoing investigation into alleged revenue leakages through the Remita platform. GTCO’s Executive Director, Mr. Ahmed Liman admitted that the bank had not remitted the VAT for eight years.

Additionally, the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), a non-governmental organization, stormed the National Assembly on October 3, seeking a legislative probe into alleged “corruption, fraud, and financial irregularities” in the bank.

In a statement signed by Amb. Comr. Adebayo Lion Ogorry, Director of Publicity and Mobilization, the group claimed that a private investigator’s report revealed that under the leadership of Segun Julius Agbaje, GTCO had engaged in unsolicited account openings, declaration of fictitious profits, round-tripping, money laundering, terrorism financing, and the use of customers’ and investors’ funds to pay penalties in the United Kingdom.

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The journalists currently undergoing trial had brought these issues to public attention in their publications.

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Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.

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NLM Mobilization Director charges members to take structural formation serious

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By AbdulRahman Obaje

Alhaji Suleiman Yunusa, the National Director, Mobilization and Contact, Nigeria Liberty Movement, NLM has charges NLM members nation-wide to be more serious with the mobilization and the structural formation. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">

He made this statement during a stakeholders meeting of the Kogi State chapter of NLM Saturday March 1st, 2025, Lokoja.

Yunusa said Nigeria Liberty Movement is a pure political movement that has come to establish an emergency national intervention for a new breed of leadership, saying that, “for emergency national intervention, we expect that everybody that is here has a burning desire”

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Yunusa further revealed that you will reap your effort according to what you put in.

“You are not going to work for Nigeria Liberty Movement, you are going to work for yourself”

“If you want to see the Nigeria of your dream, it is not all about going to the street to protest, it is not all about telling the Nigeria Labour Congress to go on strike”

“Nigeria Liberty Movement has come for self-actualisation of the citizen”

Yunusa said, “If you are a local government coordinator, all we want you to do is create your structure and even to take an elective position, NLM will sponsor your election”

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“Nigeria Liberty Movement is telling you to go and create your structure, showcase your structure and you will be empowered”, he continued.

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Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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NLM Rejigs Leadership Structure, Says It’s time for Leadership by Productivity

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By Abdulrahman Obaje

The Nigeria Liberty Movement (NLM) has outlined detailed plan as it rejig the leadership structure of the party from National Executive Councils to Family Mobilisers, saying that It’s time for leadership by productivity. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">

This is contained in an advance Ramadan message by Amb. Moses O. Adebisi PhD, aka ThisDaysMoses, aka Al’Musa, National Leader, Nigerian Liberty Movement.

Ambassador Moses while passing his advance ramadan message said, “Despite the general acceptance of the Message of Liberty by the aggrieved members of Nigeria Society, we have a need, and that need is worthy, able and willing Liberator in our 7 Hierarchical Order of Leadership and Structural Formation.”

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“11 person at the state level across all the senatorial districts.”

“11 person at every local government level in your state.”

“11 person at every wards level in your state.”

“Requirements: We need a leader that can assemble these numbers of person together in his state, have a meeting with them, take their details and bring it to the headquarters in Abuja in person.”

“You and them would become the NWC of NLM, You and them will receive our Training, Empowerment and Leadership Tickets in Our Party and Our Government.”

“In quest for Liberty: NLM Through You, Would Emerge New Breed of Leadership in Nigeria’s Political Landscape, For Emergency National Intervention, Self Actualisation of every Nigerian and National Development.”

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He charges any member that has the capacity to lead to contact him with his or her detailed plan.
he said, “Can you take this lead for your state?, Come up hitter, Come to my dm and tell me the state you want to lead, We shall bring down this posts in 24hours”

He greats and wishes the muslim community in Nigeria a rewarding Ramadan period in advance and pray that May the Ramadan bring you ever closer to Jannah

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Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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NLM FCT Chapter Postpones General Meeting, Cites Incomplete Structural Formation

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By AbdulRahman Obaje

The Nigeria Liberty Movement has announced the postponement of its general meeting until further notice.

This is contained in a statement dated February 20, 2025 and issued by Comrade Prince AbdulRahman Obaje, FCT Media Representative for the National Executive Council Member Nigeria Liberty Movement,  in Abuja. js">

The statement cite incomplete structural formation and the ongoing consultations as reason for the postponement.

The statement read thus, “Dear Members of the Nigeria Liberty Movement (NLM) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja,”

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“We, the National Executive Council members representing the FCT, wish to inform you that, in alignment with the directives from our National Leader to convene state general meetings, the scheduled general meeting for the FCT Abuja has been postponed until further notice. This decision has been made due to the following reasons:”

“Incomplete Structural Formation in the FCT: The organizational framework within the FCT is still under development, and we aim to establish a robust structure before proceeding with the general meeting.

“Ongoing Consultations with Stakeholders: We are currently engaging in comprehensive consultations to ensure that all stakeholders within the FCT are adequately represented and involved in our initiatives.

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The statement thereby apologized to stakeholders for any inconveniences this might have caused them.

“We hereby apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciate your understanding and patience.

“Further updates will be communicated as soon as the necessary arrangements have been finalized.

“Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the Nigeria Liberty Movement.”, the statement concluded.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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