Agba Jalingo: Falana calls for the release of an arrested journalist
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for Agba Jalingo's "unconditional release".
The journalist was arrested at his Lagos residence in Alapere, Ketu on Friday by Abuja police officers.
"Police surrounded my house," he said Friday via his Facebook page.
Mr. Falana said in a statement on Saturday that prior to Mr. Jalingo's arrest, his family had been subjected to "unwarranted harassment for hours..."
"Agba's continued harassment on the basis of the allegation that he defamed the wife of a sitting governor's brother is the height of official impunity in a democratic society," the statement read. .
"Given that defamation is not a criminal offence, the police action constitutes a clear breach of section 8(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and section 32(2) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which prohibited the police from arresting any person in Nigeria for tort or breach of contract.
"Therefore, the law enforcement authorities should release Agba Jalingo unconditionally and advise the petitioner to sue for defamation in a civil court."
RaisonMr. Falana said he met the journalist at the police station where he informed him that he "did not commit any offense but that his newspaper, CrossRiverWatch, only asked why a lecturer who had taken exams for a student of the Nigerian Law School Abuja has been taken to court as the student is treated like a holy cow."
"The police officers corroborated his account and stated that the petitioner alleged that Agba Jalingo had committed "defamation and attack on his integrity", which does not constitute an offense under any provision of the Penal Code .
"Based on the information available to me, I was forced to demand his unconditional release since he did not violate any provision of the Penal Code.
"But the police informed me that his detention had been ordered by the authorities in Abuja. So, at around 11am this morning, he was flown from Lagos and he is currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Department , Garki, Abuja.”
The editor of Cross-River Watch, has a long-running battle with the authorities.
In August 2019, he was arrested for accusing Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade of embezzling 500 million naira belonging to the state.
He was charged with terrorism, treason and cybercrime, and jailed for approximately 179 days, despite global outrage over the action.
In July 2021, the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja ordered the federal government to pay the publisher 30 million naira as compensation for the ill-treatment and torture he suffered while in detention.< /p>
In March 2022, a Federal High Court in Calabar dismissed the terrorism, treason and cybercrime charges against him.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for Agba Jalingo's "unconditional release".
The journalist was arrested at his Lagos residence in Alapere, Ketu on Friday by Abuja police officers.
"Police surrounded my house," he said Friday via his Facebook page.
Mr. Falana said in a statement on Saturday that prior to Mr. Jalingo's arrest, his family had been subjected to "unwarranted harassment for hours..."
"Agba's continued harassment on the basis of the allegation that he defamed the wife of a sitting governor's brother is the height of official impunity in a democratic society," the statement read. .
"Given that defamation is not a criminal offence, the police action constitutes a clear breach of section 8(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and section 32(2) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which prohibited the police from arresting any person in Nigeria for tort or breach of contract.
"Therefore, the law enforcement authorities should release Agba Jalingo unconditionally and advise the petitioner to sue for defamation in a civil court."
RaisonMr. Falana said he met the journalist at the police station where he informed him that he "did not commit any offense but that his newspaper, CrossRiverWatch, only asked why a lecturer who had taken exams for a student of the Nigerian Law School Abuja has been taken to court as the student is treated like a holy cow."
"The police officers corroborated his account and stated that the petitioner alleged that Agba Jalingo had committed "defamation and attack on his integrity", which does not constitute an offense under any provision of the Penal Code .
"Based on the information available to me, I was forced to demand his unconditional release since he did not violate any provision of the Penal Code.
"But the police informed me that his detention had been ordered by the authorities in Abuja. So, at around 11am this morning, he was flown from Lagos and he is currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Department , Garki, Abuja.”
The editor of Cross-River Watch, has a long-running battle with the authorities.
In August 2019, he was arrested for accusing Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade of embezzling 500 million naira belonging to the state.
He was charged with terrorism, treason and cybercrime, and jailed for approximately 179 days, despite global outrage over the action.
In July 2021, the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja ordered the federal government to pay the publisher 30 million naira as compensation for the ill-treatment and torture he suffered while in detention.< /p>
In March 2022, a Federal High Court in Calabar dismissed the terrorism, treason and cybercrime charges against him.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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