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The Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has directed its members to shut down their Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTBank) accounts immediately. This move follows the prolonged detention of Seun Odunlami, a council member, and three others, who were arrested and remanded at the Ikoyi correctional center for over a month.

Comrade Wale Olarenwaju, Chairman of the council, expressed concern that the offense Odunlami and others were accused of is bailable, yet they remain in detention, violating their fundamental human rights. He emphasized that the Cybercrime Act of 2024, as amended, has been used to intimidate the media with frivolous charges.

Olarenwaju stated, “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 added, “This case reveals a concerning trend where individuals are detained not based on lawful grounds, but rather through the influence of certain powerful entities.”

The chairman urged journalists in Ogun State to close their GTBank accounts and called on other state councils to join the struggle to free their members. He appealed to anyone with information or influence to stand up against this injustice, emphasizing the collective responsibility to ensure fair treatment under the law.

Olarenwaju’s words echo the concerns raised in a recent report about Guaranty Trust Bank’s alleged involvement in financial foul play, unsolicited account openings, and forex manipulations ¹. The report highlighted the bank’s history of breaches, including a £525,000 fine by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for failing to prevent money laundering.

As the NUJ rallies against GTBank, the spotlight shines on the bank’s practices and the broader implications for press freedom and human rights in Nigeria.

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