Press Release - Agba Jalingo
Trial: IPC condemns handling, restates call for release
For immediate
release
February 6,
2020
Agba Jalingo
Trial: IPC condemns handling, restates call for release
The
International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has condemned in strong terms the
failure of the Nigerian Correctional Service to produce Agba Jalingo in Court
for resumption of his trial in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State on
Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
Jalingo, who
has been in detention for 134 days, is facing trial for terrorism and treason.
Media Reports
from the Nation Online detailed that Jalingo’s case was scheduled for
appearance on Wednesday February 5 2020, but his absence in court forced the
adjournment till Friday, February 7, 2020. In addition, the report stated that
a lawyer in his defense team, James Ibor, said the failure to bring Jalingo,
currently charged with terrorism and cybercrime, to court was due to an
administrative issue as his production warrant was not signed.
IPC Executive
Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement said the failure to produce
Jalingo in court constituted an attempt to unfairly delay his trial, which is
unacceptable.
According to
him, the terrorism charges against the Journalist were and still merely meant
to punish him for raising accountability issues against the Cross River State
Governor, Ben Ayade.
Mr.
Arogundade therefore said that on the basis of the facts of the matter and the
preponderance of public opinion, there is actually no reason to continue with
the trial of the Journalist. “We therefore call on the Attorney General of the
Federation to immediately discontinue the case” he said.
Decries
Molestation of Journalists in Abuja
IPC has also
condemned the arrests of Journalists Pricilla Ajeshola, Jacob Orji, Abayomi
Adedoyin, Peggy Shande, and David Gold Enemingin employees of The Nigerian News
Group, who were detained and paraded by the FCT Police Command on Saturday for
allegedly attempting to cause panic in the nation’s capital while doing a story
on the Lassa and Coronavirus outbreak.
The Executive
Director IPC said once they were confirmed and identified as journalists, the
police should have exercised discretion by initiating discussion with their
employers or the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) rather than the
unnecessarily and embarrassingly
parading them.
Mr.
Arogundade however called on Journalists to approach the reporting of sensitive
issues like the outbreak of Lassa fever and Coronavirus with greater caution
and more professionalism.
SGD:
Olutoyin Ayoade
Communications Officer
International Press Centre, Lagos
tayoade@ipcng.org
No comments:
Post a Comment