A group, New Era Rights Networks (NERN), has said contrary to general perception, the publisher of Cross River Watch, Mr Agba Jalingo, is being prosecuted for defamation.

In a statement on Thursday by its Coordinator, Mr Malik Okungbowa, NERN alleged that Jalingo wrongly accused one Mrs Alami Ayade of contacting someone to write an examination for her at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.

It recalled that Jalingo had on June 30, 2022, taken to his Facebook page and his blog, Cross River Watch, to publish an article that one Paschal Aboh, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, was caught by authorities of the Nigerian Law School for impersonating another student to write a re-sit examination for her.

But according to exhibits tendered in the court, the group said evidence showed that the said Aboh was allegedly contracted by one Kayode Orekoya to do his bidding and not Mrs Ayade.

Following the defamatory publication, Mrs Ayade, who is the wife of Mr Frank Ayade, the younger brother of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, had through her lawyer July 2022, Uyi Frank Obayagbona, given Jalingo a 14-day ultimatum to retract the publication, among others, but he failed to do so.

NERN noted that as a result of the failure of Jalingo to tender a public apology, among other requirements, he was arrested and charged with criminal defamation in a case that is currently before an Abuja High Court following complaints lodged by Mrs Ayade.

The group said, “So far, we have not come across any document or credible information linking Alami Ayade to the crime as Agba Jalingo is insisting, but we guess he will present his evidence in court and only the court can decide on this matter.”

Jalingo was arraigned on March 27, 2023, in an Abuja High Court and was committed to prison, he was, however, granted bail in the next court sitting on April 3, after spending one week in the Kuje correctional facility.

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