The police have charged popular journalist, Agba Jalingo, with treason for allegedly criticising Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.
Jalingo, who runs a news website, Cross River Watch, was also accused of attempting to incite the people of Cross River against Ayade through his publication.
He had accused Ayade of embezzling government funds to the tune of N500m.
However, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, reacting to the development in a statement blasted Gov. Ayade for abuse of power.
He also lambasted the police for lending themselves to oppressors of the Nigerian people despite a Court of Appeal ruling that a public officer who has been defamed cannot use the machinery of the state to harass citizens.
Falana noted that rather than charging Jalingo with treason, the Governor should sue him for defamation instead.
The statement read in part, “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.”
