Funmi Lawrence
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have called for the release of a journalist, Agba Jalingo from custody.
Mr Adeyemi Azeez, National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association made this known in a statement made available to Newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
It would be recalled that Jalingo, a publisher of CrossRiverWatch was arrested on August 22, over a report of alleging that Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State diverted N500 million belonging to the state.
Azeez said that turning deaf ears to the plight of the renowned activist and Journalist was uncalled for while urging those involved to do the needful to secure his release.
“On Friday, October 4, the journalist and human rights activist, Agba Jalingo, filed a bail application but was refused by a Federal High Court.
“Although the court has autonomous powers on cases before it, this development further increased the volume of rumours saying state powers are behind his travail.
“In fact, the mode of his arrest was shocking as his wife confirmed the men who took his husband away from their residence in Lagos weren’t wearing police uniforms nor did they agreed to show her his warrant of arrest.
“Later it was discovered that Agba Jalingo was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force on August 22, moved to Calabar and arraigned before a Federal High Court on September 25 on a four-count charge of treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government.”
Azeez added that it is inhuman for the activist to be kept in prison custom since September 25, as the ruling of the court was been awaited.
” The activist has been kept in custody for over 119 days even when his case is yet to ruled upon by a competent court.
“As a result, we as students are afraid that anarchy might set into Nigeria in full scale since this is a clear case of undermining our hard-earned democracy.
