EDITORIAL on the recent out-of-court settlement between Guarantee Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and bloggers standing trial for cyberstalking.
After six months in detention, four bloggers sued for cyberstalking by Guarantee Trust Holding Company (GTCO), the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Segun Agbaje and its management recently regained their freedom following the withdrawal of the criminal charge filed against them after agreeing to terms of the settlement.
The withdrawal and striking out of the case followed pardon by the company which the prosecuting counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, told the court was because the prosecution and the nominal complainants GTCO have accepted the defendants’ plea to reconsider the issue.
Aribisala said the defendants have agreed to ameliorate the wrongs that led to their prosecution, adding that the Guild of Editors have also intervened and pleaded on their behalf and the bank (GTCO) are amenable to have the matter amicably settled under the terms agreed.
“The defendants have promised to restitute and to further take out publications to right the wrong, there is no gain saying they are remorseful and have agreed not to use their blogs for publishing wrong, malicious or wrong information,” Ajibola stated.
Under the terms of the settlement, the bloggers also agreed to tender unreserved apologies in three National Newspapers.
We commend the bank for accepting the pleas of the bloggers and others who have intervened in the matter and agreeing to have it settled amicably instead of pursuing the case until the court gives judgment.
Based on the court proceedings while the bloggers remain in detention, the chances of the bank winning the case and getting the bloggers jailed are very high.
Agreeing to the terms of the agreement to right the wrongs they have done through their publications and publishing apologies in three National newspapers is an admission by the bloggers that what they published about the bank and its CEO was false.
Hopefully, the bloggers have learnt their lessons the hard way and will desist from such publications that can get them arrested again. Other bloggers and journalists should also learn from this case that there are dire consequences for publishing reports that are not accurate and fair by the ethics of journalism.
Bloggers, journalists and anyone who publishes content on any platform should know that cyberstalking is an offence punishable under section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended in 2024.
Other laws which guide publishing and broadcasting which media professionals should also be aware of include libel, defamation, slander, copyright, plagiarism and others.
While the constitution of the country guarantees freedom of the press and expression, publishing, broadcasting or any other form of information sharing must be done within the ambit of the law and respect for the rights of others not to be accused of wrong doings that cannot be proven in the court of law.
The code of ethics for journalists in Nigeria which bloggers should adopt in their practice clearly states that truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event.
It adds that journalists should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. Where such information has been inadvertently published, prompt correction should be made.
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