|
Journalists Languish in Prison
Custody over Charges of Sedition
Messrs Imo Eze and Oluwole
Elenyinmi, two journalists working with ‘Ebonyi Voice’ newspapers in
Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria are languishing in prison
custody, unable to meet the stringent condition set by an Abakiliki
Magistrate Court trying them on three-count charge of sedition against the
state government.
The two journalists were
charged to Abakiliki Magistrate Court by the Commissioner of Police in the
state on three-count charge of sedition against the state government on
April 16, 2006.
They were accused of defamatory
publication punishable under section 517A of the Criminal Code Law of
Eastern Nigeria.
Part of the charges against
them read: "that you Imo Eze and Oluwole Elenyinmi on the 16th day of
April 2006, at Abakaliki..... with the intent to injure the reputation of
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Ominyi
Egwu and his government, and expose him to hatred, did publish a
defamatory matter knowing it to be false in the news report contained in
pages one and two of ‘Ebonyi Voice’ newspapers of 16th April, 2006 edition
and causing it to be read by other persons and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 375 of the Criminal Code 30 Vol. 11 Law
of Eastern Nigeria as applicable in Ebonyi State".
Messrs Eze and Elenyinmi were
arrested and arraigned before the court on June 14 but pleaded not guilty
to the charges.
Although the presiding
Magistrate, His Worship J.U. Orude granted them bail, based on
applications by the two journalists, the conditions were so stringent they
were unable to meet them and have since remained in prison custody.
In granting them bail, the
presiding Magistrate asked the journalists produce N50,000 each and a
surety who is to be Permanent Secretary or his equivalent who must reside
within the jurisdiction of the court.
The journalists could not meet
all the conditions particularly that of getting persons in the rank of
permanent secretary serving in Abakiliki, apparently because no permanent
secretary would stake his job to stand surety for the journalists who have
been tagged enemies of Governor Egwu by those in government. Permanent
Secretaries in Nigeria are more or less political appointees of the
government.
The case came up on June 20,
and later July 25 and on both occasions, the Counsel could not get the
court to relax the bail conditions in order to effect their bail.
Their Counsel is reportedly
contemplating taking the matter to the State High Court which has the
power to mitigate the stringent conditions.
|
