The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
- HURIWA condemns media outfits for abandoning journalist
A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State has granted bail to publisher of Cross River Watch, Agba Jalingo after 175 days in detention.
Justice Sule Shuaibu, who took over his trial after Justice Simon Amobeda excused himself from the matter following allegation of bias against him, granted Jalingo bail in the sum of N10m.
Justice Amobeda had denied Jalingo bail on three occasions in spite of spirited efforts by his counsels, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), Attah Ochinke and James Ibor.
Jalingo’s prosecution took another twist yesterday as the state government reverted to the initial charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government against him.
After an initial mix up, prosecution counsel and Cross River State Attorney General, Tanko Ashang, said they would rely on the initial charges filed on August 30, 2019, but Jalingo pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
One of Jalingo’s Counsel, Ochinke, moved for bail, which the prosecution Counsel, Ashang declined to oppose.
Ashang, who said he was not opposing the bail application dated November 7, 2019 and filed on November 12, 2019, however asked the court to be guided by Section 34 subsection 3(a) and subsection 5 of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, which bars the discussion of court proceedings on trials relating to terrorism and prescribes a five year jail term on those found wanting.
In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu set the bail bond at N10m with one surety in like sum and the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and a physically verified address.
In addition, the surety is expected to deposit N700,000 with the court registrar who will then pay it into an interest yielding account with a commercial bank, while Jalingo must seek the permission of court to travel out of the country if he wished.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned media organisations in the country for failing to protect Jalingo, who is being maltreated by the Cross River State Government.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said media organisations might have abandoned the journalist for fear of losing advertising revenues from the government.
He also decried Federal Government’s attitude towards protecting the country’s image in the international level, saying Jalingo’s arrest and detention had painted Nigeria in bad light.
