The Federal High Court Abuja, has remanded a journalist and publisher of an online medium, CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo, for allegedly publishing an article that was deemed “insulting” to Elizabeth Ayade, the wife to the younger brother of the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.
Jalingo was arraigned on two-count charge bordering on alleged false publication intended to cause annoyance, ill will and insult to the person of Frank Ayade’s wife.
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Although Jalingo pleaded not guilty to the charge, he is alleged to have committed the offence punishable by Section 24 (1)b of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, Act 2015.
The prosecution counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, thereafter sought an adjournment for trial, but the defence counsel, Baba Isa, did not oppose but pleaded that the matter be stood down as the lead counsel, was on his way.
However, citing Section 354 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which stipulates that when parties are called, the court shall proceed to hear the matter, Ogbobe opposed Isa’s application
Justice Abubakar agreed with the prosecution counsel, stating that the arrival of Marshall Abubakar did not stop the fact that he was absent in court, the trial judge also declined the request to move the motion for bail.
Justice Zainab Abubakar subsequently ordered that Jalingo be remanded at the Kuje Custodial Center and therefore adjourned the case to March 30 and 31 for hearing of the bail application and for trial.
Elizabeth Ayade had written to Jalingo, seeking a retraction of an article that queried why a suspended staff of the University of Calabar, Paschal Aboh, was facing trial for allegedly impersonating her, a student of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja campus, while she who allegedly contracted him walks free.
Elizabeth Ayade had demanded that an apology be published in two national dailies, including the social media as well as payment of NGN500 million in damages. Jalingo was given a 14-day ultimatum to comply, or legal proceedings will be instituted against him.
However, police operatives from the FCT Command on August 19, 2022, stormed Jalingo’s Ogudu residence in Lagos State and arrested him and detained him at Area F Command in Ikeja, before he was flown to Abuja.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
