Falana SAN Blasts Police, Gov. Ayade, For Charging Journalist, Agba Jalingo With Treason

Femi Falana, a human rights activist and lawyer, has blasted
Prof. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State, for charging Agba
Jalingo, a journalist, with treason for accusing him of
corruption.

He also slammed the police for being a willing tool of
oppression against Nigerians despite a subsisting Court of Appeal
ruling that a public officer who has been defamed cannot use the
machinery of the state to harass citizens.

“A Nigerian cannot be charged with any criminal offence for
criticising a governor or any other public officer in Nigeria. In
Nwankwo v State (1985) NCLR 247, the Court of Appeal held that any
public officer who feels defamed by any publication should sue for
libel as it is illegal to use the machinery of the state to harass
political opponents in Nigeria.

“But in utter disregard of the judgment of the Court of Appeal
in Nwankwo’s case, the Nigeria Police Force has just charged Mr.
Agba Jalingo with terrorism for criticising Governor Ayade of Cross
River State.

“Since the charge constitutes a gross abuse of judicial process,
we call on the Inspector-General of Police to discontinue or
withdraw it without any delay. If Governor Ayade feels offended by
any statement made by Mr Jalingo, he is advised to sue for libel in
the High Court of Cross River State,” Falana said in a
statement.

Jalingo, an ally of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara
Reporters currently in detention for planning a protest against the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, had, through a
publication on his news website, accused Ayade of embezzling
government funds to the tune of N500 million.

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