A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has granted bail to journalist Agba Jalingo in a defamatory trial filed against him by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

The court granted Jalingo bail on Thursday morning.

Jalingo was accused of defaming Elizabeth Ayade, the wife of Frank Ayade, who is a brother of Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.

SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the journalist was denied the chance to exercise his constitutional right to request bail during the continuation of the trial in a ruling delivered by Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar on Monday morning.

The constitutional right to bail is ingrained in the trite law that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. This right is guaranteed under Sections 35 and 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

SaharaReporters reported that the judge was hostile to Jalingo’s lawyers, denying them the opportunity to stand down the case for 30 minutes in order to give the lead lawyer, Marshal Abubakar an opportunity to file an application for bail. When Marshal arrived, she refused to allow him to participate in the hearing.

She then ordered that Agba Jalingo should be arraigned in the dock and be read his charge. The judge thereafter sent him to Kuje prison until Thursday.

But on Thursday, the judge granted him bail.

The police in August 2022 arrested Jalingo after hours of laying siege to his Lagos residence for allegedly defaming the character of Elizabeth.

According to a court document obtained by SaharaReporters and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2022, the police claimed the publication by the journalist against Elizabeth was false and was released for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill will, and insult.

https://saharareporters.com/2023/03/30/breaking-court-grants-nigerian-journalist-agba-jalingo-bail-trial-over-alleged-insult

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7629750/judge-sends-agba-jalingo-kuje

Bye bye oo

And his offense was?
Ojuyobo will do worse than this

First person his government will be arresting is Rufai Oseni, apc nightmare

Mc Oluomo that incited violence against the igbos is yet to be arrested,

Why was the electoral act amended in 2022?
Because it's useless

Good news

Yet Mc Oluomo is still walking free

And yet MC Oluomo is still walking freely....

Lol

Okay na

Useless

Tinubu Tinubu Tinubu

How many times did I call you?

Nice he’s released

What exactly is his offence?

Brendaniel:
And yet MC Oluomo is still walking freely....

omoredia:
Yet Mc Oluomo is still walking free

Mcolumo committed no crime. Aside that, He isn't spreading fake propagandas out there.

Go watch pinocchio drama and you will realise how damaging fake news are. The weight of lies carried by some Propagandists are worse than murderers!

is this guy also ipob terrorist ?

Brendaniel:
And yet MC Oluomo is still walking freely....

omoredia:
Yet Mc Oluomo is still walking free

Yes. He has not committed any crime

Really journalism isn’t a crime. Thanks for fighting for freedom of speech

If you get money you are free.

Hian!

Ijaya123:




Yes. He has not committed any crime

MC Oluomo is a moving crime....

Agba Jalingo and Chude can be arrested for cyber stalking because they are speaking against injustice while the real live Perpetrators of injustice like MC Oluomo are being afforded Police, DSS protection.

They are many to still sleep in Kuje. One is Allardyce, Messi1, ObamaMessi & others. I ll update later.

Every free society has a journalist....

DOptical:




Mcolumo committed no crime. He isn't spreading fake propagandas out there.

Go watch pinocchio drama and you will realise how damaging fake news are. Propagandists are worse than murderers!

wow

Since he's acquitted and discharged he should also be paid for damages.

No be only to spoil dem go sabi, they should also repair

Felabrity:
Mc Oluomo that incited violence against the igbos is yet to be arrested,

Why was the electoral act amended in 2022?
Because it's useless

Imagine if Mc Oluomo is an igbo man and he made that statement

Sowore is back to Revolution now campaign after loosing election.
Journalism is different from cyberbullying. they should no the difference