Journalist Jalingo granted N1m bail in Cybercrimes charge

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*Agba Jalingo, journalist and publisher


(Nigeria) Reprieve on Thursday, came the way of journalist and publisher of an online news platform, CrossRiverWatch, Mr. Agba Jalingo, as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000, with one surety in like sum.

Recall that Jalingo, who was remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja on Monday, was accused of publishing an article that disparaged one Mrs. Elizabeth Ayade, wife of the younger brother of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge of Cybercrimes, brought against him by the police.

The charge is punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the hearing in the matter, Thursday, Jalingo, through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, applied to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against him.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.

It its ruling, trial judge, Justice Zainab Abubakar, admitted Jalingo to bail in the sum of N500, 000, with one surety in like sum.

The court adjourned the case to May 31 for trial, but ordered that Jalingo should remain in prison custody, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Jalingo was alleged to have in the article, challenged why a suspended staff of the University of Calabar, Paschal Aboh, was facing trial for allegedly impersonating a student of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja campus identified as Mrs. Ayade, while the person (Mrs Ayade) that allegedly contracted him, remained free.

Mrs Ayade had demanded a retraction and an apology to be published in two national dailies and social media platforms, as well as the payment of N500million to her as damages, but following Mrs. Ayade's petition, Police arrested Jalingo and later released him on administrative bail, before he was charged to court and ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

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