Court Grants Embattled Journalist Agba Jalingo N10m Bail

Nigerians have been calling for the release of Agba Jalingo, just like Omoyele Sowore (Photo Courtesy: Sahara Reporters)

A Federal High court in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Sule Shuaibu has granted embattled journalist Agba Jalingo N10 million bail with one surety in like sum.

Justice Shuaibu sat over the case for the first time after taking over from Justice Simon Amobeda who rescuse himself from the case following condemnations that trailed refusals to grant the Journalist bail on three occasions.

In his ruling, the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and his address must be physically verified. Also, he must show means that he will be able to forfeit the bail bond, the Judge ruled.

Adding, “the surety is expected to deposit N700,000 cash with the registrar of the court who will then pay it into an interest yielding account with a commercial bank” while Jalingo must seek the permission of court to travel out of the country if he wants to travel.

“Agba Jalingo must deposed to an oath that he will be available in court while he and his surety must present two passport photographs.”

Justice Shuaibu ordered that the proceedings of the court on the matter shall not be a matter of public discourse and subsequently adjourned the matter to the 6th, 7th and 8th days of April 2020 for the prosecution to open and close its case while other motions may be treated before that day.

Counsel to Agba Jalingo, Attah Ochinke Esq, in his motion, brought pursuant to sections 35 and 36 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended as well as sections 158, 161, 162 and 165 of the administration of criminal justice act 2015 urged the court to admit the defendant to bail relying on “his state of health as the special circumstance upon which the court may exercise its discretion.”

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