GDJ requires nationwide boycott of GTB over detained journalists
The Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ) has known as for a nationwide boycott of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in response to the detention of 4 Nigerian journalists.
The Chairman of GDJ, Mr. Opeyemi Daniel Adeoti made this declaration at a press convention held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
The journalists, Rowland Olonishuwa, Olurotimi Olawale, Precious Eze Chukwunonso, and Seun Odunlami, had been arrested and detained in September 2024 over allegations of cyberstalking and false publications regarding GTB’s CEO, Segun Agbaje
In his speech, Opeyemi Adeoti mentioned the GDJ’s boycott is a present of solidarity with the detained journalists and a condemnation of GTB’s actions, that are seen as an assault on press freedom.
He calls on Nigerians to face in solidarity with the detained journalists and to demand larger safety for press freedom.
Full assertion under
Good day, colleagues and members of the media group in Kwara State. We have gathered right here to tell you concerning the challenges confronted by Rowland Olonishuwa, Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi and Seun Odunlami, our companions, who’re at the moment in custody at a correctional facility in Ikoyi, Lagos attributable to a petition by the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Segun Agbaje over alleged libelous publication towards Guaranty Trust Bank.
While we acknowledge that being a journalist doesn’t exempt one from the legislation, we strongly imagine that no person ought to be handled as if they’re under the legislation, as our colleagues have been.
The Guild of Digital Journalists is a union {of professional} journalists who’ve transitioned from working as main reporters in established information organizations to establishing and managing their very own media platforms, incorporating their experience into on-line and social media publishing.
Our membership encompasses bloggers, social media influencers, and microblogging fans. We have a complete of two,700 members in Kwara State and different areas of the nation.
As a company, we’re conscious that the complete ordeal confronted by these journalists is on the behest of GTB’s administration. In gentle of this, we commend the current directive from the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ogun State Council, urging its members to terminate their accounts with GTB.
In our capability, we’re initiating steps to escalate this directive right into a nationwide boycott of GTB as a monetary establishment. By the shut of enterprise immediately, we intend to speak with all our members to encourage them to observe this plan of action as a way of protesting towards the remedy of those journalists.
As a part of the steering supplied to our members, we now have compiled an inventory of different banks together with the names and phone particulars of account officers at these banks to facilitate a clean transition away from GTB.
Members of the press, you could have realized that the trial courtroom overseeing the case of our colleagues in Lagos adjourned proceedings, as soon as once more, to the tenth and twelfth of December.
This leaves little question as to GTB’s true intentions in instigating the arrest of our colleagues, exploiting a vaguely outlined clause within the cybercrime modification act. We firmly condemn the continued trials of those 4 journalists.
Let it’s recognized as soon as extra, unequivocally, that journalism is just not a prison offense.
Furthermore, the Guild of Digital Journalists expresses deep disappointment on the lackluster response from the nationwide Secretariat of the NUJ in Abuja.
While we acknowledge the continued management transition inside the NUJ hierarchy, the Secretariat ought to have displayed extra empathy or a minimum of aligned its voice with the requires the discharge of those journalists.
As journalists in follow, we urge stakeholders such because the National Assembly, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and human rights activists and NGOs to unite in elevating international consciousness concerning the plight of our colleagues in Lagos.
Specifically, we name on the National Assembly to assessment the just lately amended Cybercrime Act with the goal of rectifying its draconian provisions, which criminalize journalists for expressing their basic proper of freedom of expression or doubtlessly repealing it.
Throughout these previous two months of adversity, we now have encountered allies and comrades who’ve taken up the trigger. We lengthen our heartfelt gratitude to the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) and the authorized crew who’ve labored tirelessly to safe the discharge of the journalists.
Special appreciation goes to Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, SAN, Barrister Kunle Afolabi, and Barrister Adebisi Adeniyi for his or her unwavering assist within the face of daunting duties.
We equally name on Nigerian media to rally spherical our colleagues by giving sufficient reportage of the courtroom proceedings.
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