Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered an accelerated trial of the four bloggers charged with defaming and cyberstalking the management of GTCO (Guaranty Trust Holding Company), including its Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

The four accused—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—are facing 10 amended charges for allegedly publishing false information about the company through various social media platforms.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on the 13th and 14th of November, Justice Faji also dismissed the bail applications, citing the serious nature of the alleged offences, which include charges that could lead to up to 14 years in prison.

The judge also held that one of the defendants – Precious Eze has shown the tendency to commit a similar offence again if let out as he is currently charged with a similar offence in another court and was only on bail when he went ahead to commit the alleged offence for which he is now standing trial.

Justice Faaji also highlighted the potentially destabilizing impact such actions could have on the banking sector, particularly since some of the charges involve cross-border activities on the Internet.

The defense counsel, Afolabi Adeniyi, had at the last hearing of the matter while moving an application for bail for the accused persons argued that the defendants should be granted bail on liberal terms, emphasizing that the charges were bailable and that the accused were willing to face trial.

Opposing the application, the prosecution Counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, urged the court to reject the bail request, highlighting the risk of the defendants absconding and stressing the need for an expedited trial.

In delivering his ruling, Justice Faji not only denied bail but also ordered an accelerated trial, underlining the gravity of the charges.

He also noted that the defendants’ actions challenged the authority of regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which had approved GTCO’s audited statements.

The matter has been adjourned until the 10th and 12th of December for continuation of the trial.

Friends and acquaintances of the late 26-year-old Lagos-based guitarist, Lekan, have raised new concerns regarding the circumstances of his tragic death, claiming that it was the severe beating he endured, rather than suicide, that ultimately led to his passing.

Lekan was found lifeless inside his room after allegedly consuming an insecticide liquid, sniper, following accusations of stealing money from his band leader, Sam Omo-Oba.

While initial reports suggested that Lekan took his own life in the wake of the allegations, his friends believe the brutal torture he faced at the hands of his boss is to blame for his untimely death.

According to a close friend of the deceased, who spoke in a video by a social media personality “Dr. Oyinlomo Diamond”, the beating began late at night and continued throughout the following morning.

A friend of the late guitarist also mentioned that there was no Snipper in the room where Lekan was found dead.

Recall that in a video that circulated on social media, Lekan is seen denying the theft allegations while being repeatedly slapped and punched by Sam Omo-Oba and other members of the band.

Despite the physical assault, Lekan maintained his innocence, but it appeared that the torture only intensified after his refusal to confess.

See videos below:

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says Nigeria’s oil production has reached 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd).

According to NAN, Lawal Musa, NNPC chief production war room officer, spoke during a briefing on the national oil company’s production on Thursday.

Musa, who doubles as a senior business advisor to Mele Kyari, NNPC group chief executive officer (GCEO), said the increased oil production followed the continuous dislodgement of pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves.

He said the achievement was based on the partnership between the leadership of the company, stakeholders, and security agencies.

“We achieved this because of the clear mandate by President Bola Tinubu to ramp up crude oil production in the country,” Musa said.

On November 11, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said Nigeria’s current production level, including crude oil and condensates, has reached 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.54 million bpd in September.

Enorense Amadasu, executive commissioner of development and production at NUPRC, said there are plans to raise the figure to 2 million bpd by year-end.

Amadasu said the country’s crude oil and condensate output is expected to increase amid a plan to open bids for 31 onshore and offshore oil blocks.

The next day, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production, excluding condensates, increased marginally to 1.33 million bpd in October.