A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the publisher of an online medium, CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo in Kuje prison pending the consideration of his bail application.
Justice Zainab Abubakar gave the order in a ruling on Monday after Jalingo was arraigned on a charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/565/2022 filed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
Jalingo was accused of publishing an article deemed ‘insulting’ to Mrs Elizabeth Ayade, said to be the wife of the younger brother of Cross River Governor Ben Ayade.
He is, in the two-count charge, accused of making false publication intended to cause annoyance, ill will and insult to the person of Mrs. Ayade.
The defendant is alleged to have committed an offence punishable by Section 24 (1)b of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.
Jalingo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him on Monday, following which the prosecuting lawyer, Fidelis Ogbobe, sought an adjournment for the commencement of trial.
Defence lawyer, Baba Isa did not object to Ogbode’s request for adjournment, but prayed the court to hear the defendant’s bail application, which, he said was being filed by his senior colleague, Marshal Abubakar.
Ogbobe objected to Isa’s application and cited Section 354 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 in support of his contention that the defence planned to delay progress in the case.
Although Abubakar later met the proceedings, Justice Abubakar declined to accommodate his participation in the case on the grounds that he had been recorded absent.
Justice Abubakar then adjourned till March 30, 2023, for the hearing of the bail application and May 31, 2023 for the commencement of trial.
EDITORIAL
This story amongst others are reviewed on Sparkling 92.3FM http://mixlr.com/sparkling923fm–2 and FAD 93.1FM. Again, opinions expressed on NegroidHaven are exclusively the author’s not NH’s.
