Agba Jalingo: Court adjourns at the instance of prosecution

CALABAR, Cross River, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross Rivers State has adjourned till October 2, 2019 for the prosecution, Denis Terhemba, a Deputy Superintendent of Police respond to affidavit in support of Agba Jalingo’s bail.

Justice Simon Amobeda who was disturb by antics of the prosecution and the respondent cautioned parties to desist from wasting the precious time of the court.

Agba Jalingo, publisher of Crossriverwatch.com has been in detention since August 22, 2019 when he was arrested in Lagos, following an invitation by the Cross River State Police Command and driven by road to Calabar.

Jalingo came into the bad books of Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade for publishing an article, in which he queried the whereabouts of the N500 million approved and released by the Cross River State government for the floating of Cross Rivers State Microfinance bank. He facing trial for terrorism and treasonable felony.

One of the charges brought against him reads: “That you Agba on or about the 2nd of July 2019…did carry out acts of treason and treasonable felony by threatening through various publication on crossriverwatch.com and social media, using malicious publications, instigating the people of Nigeria to stage protest for the removal of the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria from office without due process of law and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Section 41 of the Criminal Code of Act, Cap C38, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Prior to Thursday sitting, Justice Simon Amobeda had said he had no time to look at the bail document following arguments on filing by parties. The prosecution , Mr. Denis Terhemba, a Deputy Superintendent of Police claimed the counter affidavit was filed September 18, 2019 but Jalingo’s counsel, Mr. Attah Ochinke said he was served shortly before the court began sitting.

“We had an application for him to be admitted to bail, but because the counter affidavit was only brought to the attention of the court today, the court graciously granted us to come back tomorrow for the argument on the application of the bail. We hope that by tomorrow, (Thursday) the court will give a considered opinion on it and Agba will be admitted to bail.”

But at the sitting, the judge adjourned to allow prosecution respond to bail application.

Agba Jalingo has also sued the police for N150 million as damages for what he described as illegal and breach of his fundamental human rights.