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After 179 days in incarceration, social critic and publisher of an online publication, CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo, has been released from Afokang prison in Calabar South Local Council of Cross River State.
Jalingo, according to his close associate and a fellow journalist, Jonathan Ugbal, was after fulfilling his baill conditions as prescribed by the Federal High Court, Calabar.
Ugbal said immediately he was released, he embraced few of his friends and associates that had actually effect his release.
His lawyers, James Ibor, First Baba Isa, three staff of CrossRiverWatch led by the Managing Editor, Jeremiah Archibong, alongside Oto-Obong Clement and Temple Lawrence, some family members and a few others were at the prison premises to receive him.
“He shouted freedom and threw his hands into the air the moment he stepped out of the prison’s big gate and jogged round the prison environment with great excitement and enthusiasm with his black T-shirt with inscription ‘we must not allow dictatorship to win'”, Ugbal said.
He added that the brief session at the prisons was “filled with joy and excitement and praises to God for making him come out alive after such a long period behind bars.”
Recall that Justice Sule Shuaibu who took over the trial of Jalingo after Justice Simon Amobeda had last recused himself from the matter following a petition of bias against him, granted bail to Jalingo in the sum of N10 million.
He had demanded: “That the surety must reside within jurisdiction, must deposit N700,000 which the registrar will pay into an interest-yielding account with a commercial bank. He will show that he has the means of paying and the court bailiff must physically verify his house.”
The bail conditions also said, Jalingo and the surety must provide two passport photographs. Jalingo must deposed to an oath that he will be available to stand trial and must seek permission from the court before he travels out of the country.
“The matter shall not be a subject of public discourse as it is subjudice,” it was further expected of him.
Justice Amobeda had on two occasions denied Jalingo bail despite spirited efforts by his counsel, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; and Mr. Attah Ochinke and Ibor.
The prosecution of Jalingo took another twist last week as the state government reverted to the initial charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River state government against him.
The prosecution counsel and Attorney General of Cross River State, Mr. Tanko Ashang had said they would rely on the initial charges filed on August 30, 2019 as stated above but Jalingo pleaded not guilty to all the charges and his counsel, Ochinke moved the motion for bail with the prosecution counsel, Ashang, declining to oppose.
