Journalist Agba Jalingo freed from detention 6 months after

 

Incarcerated journalist and publisher of Cross River Watch, Agba Jalingo, has been released from prison custody, six months after he was detained.

He was released after meeting his bail condition.

Jalingo, who was detained for allegedly writing articles criticising Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, was granted a N10 million bail term last week.

He was first arrested by the police in August 2019 on the orders of the Ben Ayade-led Cross River State Government.

He was subsequently arraigned for treason and attempting to overthrow the state government due to the highly critical articles he published.

Amnesty International had declared the activist a prisoner of conscience as a result of his long detention.

READ: Nigerians in the UK protest, ask Buhari to go home, release journalists Sowore, Agba Jalingo

Last week there were a series of protests staged in Cross River over his detention.

“It’s really heart-warming to see my dear friend, brother and colleague, Citizen Agba Jalingo, freed from the Calabar prison after 179 days in forced detention.

“Jalingo’s incarceration remains illegal. The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has failed to accept or deny the revelation that he allegedly misappropriated the sum of N500 million meant for the state-owned micro finance bank,” Charles Kalu, one of those in the fore front to free Jalingo campaign said, while making reference to the report that drew the ire of the Cross River governor.