AYADE'S PAPRDIGM: FROM CRITICISM TO TERRORISM…..THE ACCOUNT OF PROF BEN AYADE (GOVERNOR) AND AGBA JALINGO (JOURNALIST)
PART 2: AGBA JALANGO'S CHRONOLOGICAL STEPS TO AYADE'S PERDITION ... July 12, 2019 - January 24, 2020
(By Amaso Jack)
"He is currently remanded at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Afokang, Calabar, where he has spent 121 days so far after appearing before Justice Amobeda on September 25, 2019."
STEP 7: July 12, 2019, Police charge sheet
Committee to Protect Journalists, in its September 5, 2019, account , titled:
"Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo charged with treason"
"According to the charge sheet, the disturbance charges stem from a July 12 CrossRiverWatch article that alleged corruption involving Ayade and the Cross River Micro Finance Bank. The treason charges allege that Jalingo agitated for Ayade’s removal through “various malicious publications” on CrossRiverWatch and social media."
"The July 12 article contains an editorial note identifying Jalingo as the Cross River state chairman of the African Action Congress party, founded by Omoyele Sowore, owner of the Sahara Reporters news website. Police arrested Sowore on August 3 for allegedly planning protests throughout Nigeria, as CPJ reported at the time, and he remains in jail, according to news reports."
STEP 8: July 17, 2019, Agba Jalingo's N500 million fraud ALLIGATIONS in Crossriverwatch.com
Nwachukwu Egbunike of Advox global voices, wrote on September, 2, 2019
"Corruption allegations
On July 17, Jalingo wrote a critical story about an alleged diversion of 500 million naira (about $1.4 million United States dollars) meant for the establishment of Cross River state Micro-Finance Bank. Jalingo stated that “eight months after the opening of the bank,” Ayade had failed to to release the money meant for the start-up of the state-owned bank:"
On July 17, Jalingo wrote a critical story about an alleged diversion of 500 million naira (about $1.4 million United States dollars) meant for the establishment of Cross River state Micro-Finance Bank. Jalingo stated that “eight months after the opening of the bank,” Ayade had failed to to release the money meant for the start-up of the state-owned bank:"
STEP 9: August 14, 2019, Jalingo invited by the police.
Again, from Nwachukwu Egbunike of Advox
"On August 14, the Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Police invited Jalingo for questioning on the allegation of “conspiracy to cause unrest and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”
"This office is investigating a case of conspiracy to cause a breach of peace, reported by Cross River Microfinance Bank, Calabar, in which your name is mentioned. To facilitate our investigation, you are kindly requested to interview the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Calabar, on Monday, 19 August 2019, at [7:00 p.m.] 1400hrs, to state your side of the case."
STEP 10: Agba Jalingo's August 22, 2019 arrest.
"Jalingo was eventually arrested in a junta style by the police in Lagos on August 22, 2019, and was not arraigned until 34 days in detention.
He was denied bail twice with the court also giving an order for unidentified witnesses to testify against Jalingo in mask, signaling lack of fair hearing in the case."
Joseph Ushigiale again wrote:
"Operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Division, on the orders of the Cross River State Police Commissioner, Austin Agbonlahor stormed Lagos and arrested Jalingo. He was brought back to Calabar to answer charges bordering on incitement, treasonable felony etc. He has since remained in police custody despite his deteriorating health condition."
STEP 11: August 23, 2019
"On August 23, police transferred Jalingo to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State"
STEP 11: 27, August, 2019, Jalingo Sued police for 150 million naira
Committee to Protect Journalists, provided the following details.
"On August 27, in response to his arrest and ongoing detention, Jalingo sued the Nigerian police, seeking damages of 150 million naira ($414,364), citing wrongful imprisonment and mistreatment, and demanding his immediate release, according to court documents seen by CPJ"
STEP 12: August 30, 2019 charges bordering on “acts of treason"
Again, Joseph Ushigiale, in his September 21, 2019 account titled:
"Police, Ayade and the Travails of Agba Jalingo"
"A week into his incarceration, the police on August 30, filed an affidavit against Jalingo leading to his eventual arraignment before the Federal High Court, Calabar Judicial Division, on charges bordering on “acts of treason, treasonable felony, and threatening through various publications on crossriverwatch.com and social media, using malicious publications, instigating the people of Nigeria to stage protest for the removal of the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria from office without due process of law and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
STEP 13: September 2, 2019, Femi Falana's intervention.
Ademola Aderele's September 2, 2019 account in Newsbreak, captured it this way:
"Falana Blasts Ayade For Charging Journalist With Treason"
STEP 14: September 25, 2019:
"...moved to Calabar and arraigned before a Federal High Court on September 25 on a four-count charge of treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government."https://www.premiumtimesng.com/…/356200-analysis-agba-jalin…
STEP 15: September 30, 2019, Joseph Odok a lawyer is arrested.
Cletus Ukpong, in his September 30, 2019 account, titled:
"Police arrest another critic of Gov. Ayade, accuse him of ‘terrorism’"
Wrote:
"The police have arrested a Nigerian lawyer, Joseph Odok, over allegation of ‘terrorism’....In one of his posts on the social media site in September, the lawyer described the governor as a “joker”.
“Ayade keep getting it wrong with lofty projects. Why talk of Spaghetti flyover when you have not maintained or completed a single road project from your first administration.
“A man that can’t complete a single road keeps talking SuperHighWay, Deep Sea Port and now Spaghetti flyover. This joke is getting out of hands,” he wrote on Facebook."
STEP 16: October 4, 2019, Agba Jalingo brought to court in HANDCUFFS
"On Friday, October 4, the bail application filed by journalist and human rights activist, Agba Jalingo, was refused by a Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda."
STEP 17: November 1, 2019, Jalingo travails earn him a listing as the 9th out of 10 urgent cases that are a threat of Journalism
Forbes, in a Press Release, of Nov 1, 2019 titled:
"One Free Press Coalition Releases Latest “10 Most Urgent”
Put it this way:
"Agba Jalingo (Nigeria)
Pending trial could carry a life sentence for Nigerian publisher.
Eight days after his August 22 arrest in Lagos, Nigerian federal authorities charged Agba Jalingo, publisher of privately owned online news outlet CrossRiverWatch, with disturbance of public peace and treason for writings and social media posts about Governor Benedict Ayade. Courts are granting witnesses anonymity in closed testimony, calling into question the possibility of a fair trial. A guilty verdict for treason could sentence Jalingo to life in prison, while disturbance could carry up to three years."
Sahara reporters would add:
"Agba Jalingo Listed In World's 10 'Most Urgent' Cases Of Threats To Press Freedom (Sahara Reporters)"
(Sahara reporters is directly responsible for this development)
STEP 18: December 25, 2019
"Detained Nigerian journalist, Agba Jalingo, spends Christmas in prison"
STEP 19: December 26, 2019, Press Release by ACROJ
STEP 20: December 29, 2019
"Group gives Ayade 14-day ultimatum to free Agba Jalingo"
Punch reported on December 29, 2019
STEP 21: January 21, 2020, Odok, granted bail
"Cross River State, has admitted a lawyer and critic of Governor Ben Ayade charged with terrorism to bail.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Simon Amobeda said the defendant had shown “exceptional circumstances” to permit the court to exercise its discretion and admit him to bail.
The terms include a bail bond valued at N10m with two sureties in like sum."
STEP 22: Not dated:
"NANS demands Agba Jalingo’s release"
"Azeez said that it was inhuman for the activist to be kept in the correctional centre since Sept 25, as the ruling of the court was being awaited.
“The activist has been kept in custody for over 119 days even when his case is yet to be ruled upon by a competent court,” he said."
STEP 23: January 24, 2020
"He is currently remanded at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Afokang, Calabar, where he has spent 121 days so far after appearing before Justice Amobeda on September 25, 2019."
Continues
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