Court to rule on Agba Jalingo’s bail Friday – TheNigerialawyer

A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by
Justice Simon Amobeda has fixed Friday, October 4, 2019, to rule on
the bail application of journalist and rights activist, Mr. Agba
Jalingo.

Jalingo is facing trial for alleged treasonable felony,
terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State
Government.

The court will also rule on the preliminary objection on the
bail application filed by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Dennis
Tarhemba.

The counsel to Jalingo, Mr. Attah Ochinke, in his argument,
relied on section 161 subsection 2 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice act to demand that his client be granted bail.

Jalingo who wore a T-shirt with the inscription ‘Every Free
Society Has A Journalist,’ was taken back into prison custody till
Friday.

Tarhemba in his reaction to the court proceedings said, “What
was done today is just argument of both counsels as to the bail of
the defendant and the matter has been adjourned to the fourth day
of this month.

One of Jalingo’s counsels, Mr. James Ibor told journalists that
he was happy with the day’s proceedings.

“I am very impressed that finally, the court has taken our
application for bail. We can only be hopeful that it will go our
way. The issue of bail is at the discretion of the court. So, if it
doesn’t go in our favour, there is no cause for alarm. We will go
ahead with the hearing.”

Jalingo was arrested in Lagos by operatives attached to the
Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police on August 22,
2019.

He was arraigned on September 25, 2019 where he pleaded not
guilty to the four-count charge levelled against him.