Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on July 8, 2024, discharged and acquitted Mr. Agba Jalingo, publisher of CrossRiverWatch, charged with cyberstalking and defamation in a suit instigated by Mrs. Alami Ayade, sister-in-law to former Cross River Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.
Mr. Jalingo was accused of committing offences punishable by Section 24 (1)b of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015, according to Court documents in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/565/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2022. The police claimed a publication by the journalist against Elizabeth Alami Ayade was false and was released to cause her annoyance, ill will, and insult.
On May 8, 2024, the prosecution closed its cyberstalking case against Agba Jalingo in the criminal suit.
Operatives of the Nigerian Police had arrested him in August 2022 after they laid siege to his Ketu Lagos residence. He was taken to Alapere Police Station and subsequently detained at Area F Police Station. The police later flew him to Abuja and released him on bail in the night.
In the suit filed against the publisher, the police claimed the publication by Mr. Jalingo against Elizabeth was false and was released for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill will and insult.
The suit partly reads, “That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally Published online at Cross River Watch and alleged that one Mrs. Elizabeth Ayade Procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of Cybercrimes (Protection, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.”
“That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally publish at your Facebook page known as Agba Jalingo that one Mrs Elizabeth Ayade procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill-will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of Cybercrimes (Protection, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.”
