By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) has raised the alarm that the health of the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo, is deteriorating in Police custody.
The police arrested Jalingo on August 22 at his Lagos residence following complaint from a government-owned microfinance bank that Jalingo’s medium accused the bank of colluding with the state’s governor, Professor Ben Ayade, to divert the bank’s N500 million.
Jalingo has not been charged to court.
”We are concerned about the deteriorating health of Mr. Agba Jalingo. His hands and legs are swollen most likely due to handcuffs and solitary confinement as well as loss of appetite.
“Access to him has been largely controlled, while the few who have seen him have expressed concern over his health and called for him to have immediate access to his doctors,” a statement signed by Edem Darlington, chairman of ACROJ said.
The group accused the Cross River State Commissioner of police, Austin Agbonlahor of disregarding the constitution through the unlawful continuous detention of Jalingo.