The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by Rita Marshall has fixed August 10, 2020, to rule on the no-case submission filed by the two Cross River Watch journalists over their alleged involvement in the “revolution now” protest on August 5, 2019, in Calabar.
The defendants, Jonathan Ugbal and Jeremiah Archibong are the News Editor and Managing Editor of Cross River Watch, an online Newspaper based in Cross River State.
They were arrested on August 5, 2019, and after spending two nights in detention were bailed, three count charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assembly and conduct causing a breach of public peace were preferred against them when they were arraigned at the Magistrate court, Moore road, Calabar on August 7, 2019.
Jonathan and Archibong were said to have arrived the venue for the #RevolutionNow protest in the morning of August 5th on their way to report the event but were arrested by the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad in Calabar.
After several adjournments, the prosecuting police officer, DSP Igini Chukwuma and the investigating police officer, Sergeant Aaron Adie testified before the court.
Chukwuma told the court that he was ordered to arrest anyone who approached the venue of revolution now protest and having seen Jonathan, decided to “take him in.” He said he was later ordered to transfer him to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department which he did and has no knowledge of the investigations after that.
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Sergeant Adie in his testimony, denied knowledge of the fact the duo were journalists , He also said he neither knew the source of livelihood of the duo nor their addresses.
Counsel to the defendants, Kehole Enya, proceeded to file a no-case submission which was adopted. He prayed the court to discharge and acquit the duo as the police had failed to prove their case.
The matter with case number MC/428C/19 is however adjourned till August 10, 2020, for ruling.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
