Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International says the continuous detention of Agba Jalingo, a journalist and publisher of the Crossriverwatch who is facing death sentence if convicted on the 4-count charge bordering on terrorism and cybercrime was a “stain on the image of Nigeria.”
Speaking with journalists in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital Thursday, the group’s media manager, Isa Sanusi accused both the Federal and Cross River State Governments of manipulating the criminal justice system in the country by detaining an innocent citizen whose calling for accountability and transparency in governance is seen as opposition to the government.
Isa who was joined in the briefing by his colleagues, Damian Ugwu and Ayoola Emmanuel described the collaboration between the two levels of government as “unfortunate,” and noted that, “Cross River State is fast becoming a den of repression because more people are getting arrested for expressing their opinions.”
The rights group called on the Cross River State authorities to stop the repression in the State, advising that the authorities must respect, protect, promote and ensure the right to freedom of expression and media freedom as enshrined in the Constitution.
The rights group said that Jalingo’s trial falls short of international standards of fairness, because the court has allowed witnesses to be masked and the trial to be held in secret.
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While calling for an end to what it described as “sham trial” and “flawed charges” to be dropped, Amnesty International said it will continue to push for Agba Jalingo’s immediate and unconditional release and work with other NGOs to hold the Cross River State authorities to account for the increasing assault on human rights.
Jalingo was arrested in his Lagos residence on August 22, 2019 despite repeated statements that he will honour a police invitation bordering on his article published in July where he demanded the whereabouts of the NGN500 million approved and released by the Cross River State Government for the floating of the Cross River Microfinance Bank.
