By Ishaya Ibrahim
Human rights lawyer, Barrister Monday Onyeakachi Ubani has berated the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade for allegedly masterminding the arrest of publisher of Cross River Watch, Agba Jalingo.
Jalingo was arrested by in Lagos on August 22 after the police sent him an invitation letter stating that his name was mentioned in a report in the Cross River Watch which involved a Microfinance Bank owned by the state government.
Jalingo had alleged in the report that the N500 million approved by the state government as start-up capital for the bank was allegedly embezzled by Ayade.
“The governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Ben Ayade is behind this arrest. Before the arrest, he has not hidden his hatred and intolerance of Agba’s criticisms of his government. He engineered this arrest and detention to prove a point that he is a powerful governor who trample on citizen’s rights and get away with it using the police as a willing and spineless tool. This is very shameful, childish and condemnable. This is a clear classical case of abuse of power and misplacement of priority in governance,” Ubani said.
Ubani said the Police are still unsure of what to charge Jalingo with and have been toying with several ideas including criminal defamation, gun running, treasonable felony, attempt to overthrow the State Government, cultism and operating illegal organisation amongst others.
“They have refused to be specific as to what offence they are prepared to charge him for. Having failed to charge him within the 48 hours maximum time permitted by the constitution, they are seeking or have obtained a court order extending his detention in their custody.
“Agba’s team of lawyers in Cross River having waited in vain for the charge, have initiated the Enforcement of the Rights of Agba by filing an action in court for the enforcement of his constitutional rights but the Police as usual have refused to accept service of the court process,” he said.
Ubani wondered how the Police would prepare a charge of treason against Jalingo which carries the death penalty because he criticizes the state governor, Ben Ayade.
“I understand that Agba has been served with a charge of treason. Treason carries death penalty gentlemen. What are the facts of this treason, inciting members of the public through his publication over the micro finance bank to over throw Ayade’s government? Did you hear that? You heard me clearly,” he wondered.
He said Jalingo’s traducers should know that their hold on power is temporal, and they could as well be potential victims of abuse of power tomorrow.
He said the police should release Jalingo immediately as it is obvious that the Governor and Police are not ready to arraign him yet for his alleged crime of treason.
