Admin l Monday, October 28, 2019
CROSS RIVER, Nigeria – Human Rights groups have petitioned the United States Embassy in Abuja of over the onslaught of the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade on journalists in the state for putting the finances of his administration under public scrutiny.
In the letter to the United States, which also copied, the European Union, High Commission, Embassy of the United Kingdom, the group comprising Concerned Nigerians, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution and Free Nigerian Movement, signed by Deji Adeyanju, Ariyo Dare Atoye and Adebayo Raphael, the group called for visa ban on Professor Ben Ayade and his family for infringing on democratic rights of publisher of Crossriverwatch.com, Mr. Agba Jalingo and a blogger cum activist, Joseph Odok.
The group reported that Agba Jalingo has been in detention since August 22, 2019 when he was arrested on the orders of Ben Ayade and Joseph Odok who was arrested on September 25, 2019 also on the orders of the governor.
According to the groups, Agba Jalingo is being prosecuted for treason, treasonable felony and inciting the people of Cross State against his government through his publications, while Joseph Odok is being prosecuted on charges of terrorism for his Facebook post.
They accused the governor of arbitrariness, for randomly harassing, arresting and incarcerating activists and journalists on falacious charges. They argued that allowing Professor Ben Ayade to continue with his assault on humanrights will aggravate the worsening human rights situation in Nigeria.
“Impose visa restriction on the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade and members of his family”, the group requested.
