Recent publication by FIJ has suggested that journalist Agba Jalingo was victimised by the Cross River State Government, CRSG using the Nigerian Police. See report below…
Journalists have also been victimised by ‘big’ Nigerians. Agba Jalingo, Publisher of Cross River Watch, was detained on August 22, 2019, by the Calabar government for raising concerns about Governor Benedict Ayade’s diversion of N500 million meant for the formation of the Cross River State Microfinance Bank.
Jalingo had said in a report that the microfinance bank had been rendered inoperable due to the non-release of funds planned for its establishment. Prior to his detention, the police invited him upon receipt of a petition over his report.
Jalingo notified them that he would be out of the state, and the invitation was rescheduled for August 26, 2019. However, he was arrested four days earlier, outside Cross River State. Following his arrest in Lagos, he was blindfolded and tortured before being transported by vehicle to Cross River State where he was shackled to a refrigerator.
Jalingo was moved to a prison centre in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, and would not regain freedom until February 2020, about six months later.
