The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Muhamadu Buhari’s administration to immediately withdraw the bogus charges against journalist Agba Jalingo.
Jalingo was arraigned by the Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for allegedly defaming the daughter-in-law of the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.
Jalingo had in August 2022 been arrested by the police after hours of laying siege to his Lagos residence.
The suit dated December 6, 2022, according to a Wednesday report by Sahara Reporters, partly read, “That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally Published online at Cross River Watch and alleged that one Mrs Elizabeth Ayade Procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of CYBERCRIMES (PROTECTION, PREVENTION ETC) ACT, 2015.
“That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally publish at your Facebook page known as Agba Jalingo that one Mrs Elizabeth Ayade procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill-will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of CYBERCRIMES (PROTECTION, PREVENTION ETC) ACT, 2015.”
SERAP while calling for the withdraw of the chares noted that the ECOWAS court has declared section 24 of the Cybercrime Act unlawful.
