Court remands Agba Jalingo over alleged cybercrime

A federal high court in Abuja has remanded Agba Jalingo, publisher of CrossRiverWatch, at the medium-security custodial center in Kuje.

On Monday, Jalingo was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on false publication against Elizabeth, wife of Frank Ayade.

Frank is the brother of Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state.

The offences were said to contravene section 24(1)b of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.

On August 19, 2022, Jalingo was arrested by the police at his Lagos residence and was taken to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He was arrested following a petition filed by the wife of Frank Ayade, alleging defamation of character.

Twenty-four hours later, Jalingo was released from police custody.

During the court proceedings on Monday, the publisher pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to CrossRiverWatch.

The court declined the request of the defense to move the bail application because the lead defense counsel came late to the court.

Zainab Abubakar, the trial judge, adjourned the matter until March 30 for the court to take the bail application of the publisher.

The judge ruled that the trial would commence on May 31.

PREVIOUS COURT CASE 

In 2019, Jalingo was arrested and arraigned after he published a story on how the Cross River governor allegedly approved and diverted N500 million meant for the state’s microfinance bank.

Jalingo was charged with conspiracy, terrorism, treasonable felony, and an attempt to topple the state government.

After 174 days in detention, he was granted bail.