[ad_1]
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has demanded the “unconditional launch” of Agba Jalingo.
The journalist was arrested on Friday at his Lagos residence in Alapere, Ketu, by law enforcement officials from Abuja.
“Policemen have surrounded my home,” he had mentioned by way of his Fb web page on Friday.
Mr Falana in a press release on Saturday mentioned that earlier than Mr Jalingo’s arrest, his household have been subjected to “unwarranted harassment for hours…”
“The continuing harassment of Agba primarily based on the allegation that he has defamed the spouse of the brother of a serving Governor is the peak of official impunity in a democratic society,” the assertion reads.
“Since defamation is just not a legal offence the motion of the Police is a flagrant breach of part 8(2) of the Administration of Prison Justice Act, 2015 and part 32(2) of the Police Institution Act 2020 which have banned the police from arresting any individual in Nigeria for civil mistaken or breach of contract.
“Subsequently, the police Authorities ought to launch Agba Jalingo unconditionally and advise the petitioner to sue for libel in a civil courtroom.”
Cause
Mr Falana mentioned he met with the journalist on the police station the place he knowledgeable him that he “dedicated no offence however that his newspaper, CrossRiverWatch had solely requested why a lecturer who wrote examinations for a pupil within the Nigerian Legislation College, Abuja has been arraigned in courtroom whereas the scholar is being handled like a sacred cow.”
“The law enforcement officials corroborated his account and acknowledged that the petitioner had alleged that Agba Jalingo had dedicated ‘defamation and infringement of his integrity’, which isn’t an offence below any provision of the Prison Code.
“Based mostly on the data at my disposal, I used to be compelled to demand for his unconditional launch since he has (not) contravened any provision of the Prison Code.
“However the law enforcement officials knowledgeable me that his detention was ordered by the Authorities in Abuja. Thus, at about 11 am this morning he was flown out of Lagos and he’s at the moment being detained on the Prison Investigation Division, Garki, Abuja.”
The writer of Cross-River Watch, has a protracted standing battle with the authorities.
In August 2019, he was arrested for accusing the Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, of diverting N500 million belonging to the state.
He was charged with terrorism, treasonable felony, and cybercrime, and incarcerated for about 179 days, regardless of world outrage in opposition to the motion.
In July 2021, the ECOWAS Courtroom of Justice in Abuja ordered the federal authorities to pay the writer N30 million as compensation for his ill-treatment and torture whereas in detention.
In March 2022, a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Calabar, dismissed the terrorism, treasonable felony, and cybercrime expenses in opposition to him.
Help PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism prices some huge cash. But solely good journalism can guarantee the opportunity of a superb society, an accountable democracy, and a clear authorities.
For continued free entry to the most effective investigative journalism within the nation we ask you to think about making a modest assist to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you’re serving to to maintain a journalism of relevance and making certain it stays free and accessible to all.
Donate
TEXT AD: Name Willie – +2348098788999
[ad_2]
Source link