Detained journalist Agba Jalingo finally gets bail, after 174 days in detention

A journalist, Agba Jalingo who has been in detention for about 174 days, and being prosecuted by the Cross River State government led by Ben Ayede has finally been granted bail.

Justice Sule Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, granted Jalingo N10 million bail, following an application from his lawyer, Attah Ochinke.

Justice Shuaibu also ordered those standing as surety for the journalist to make a refundable deposit of N700,000 to the court registry to perfect the bail.

Reports say Jalingo who arrived at the court at 9:36 a.m wearing an orange shirt with the inscription #IAmAgbaJalingo, blue jeans, and blue fez cap with the same inscription was not handcuffed, unlike some of his previous appearances in court.

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Jalingo is being prosecuted by the Cross River government led the Attorney General of Cross River state, Tanko Ashang, and the Director of Public Prosecution in the state’s Ministry of Justice, Greg Okem.

Recall that the journalist who is standing trial for claiming that the incumbent Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, diverted N500 million belonging to the state was earlier denied bail twice by another judge, Simon Amobeda.

Justice Amobeda however, withdrew from the case after a secret recording where he (Amobeda) allegedly made some “biased” remarks against Jalingo, was leaked to the press late last year.

Jalingo has spent a total of 174 day both in police detention and at the Calabar prisons once his arrest.

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