The ECOWAS Court has charged the Federal Government of Nigeria N30m for ill-treating and torturing Nigerian popular Activist and Journalist, Agba Jalingo.
The Court gave the order on Friday in response to a suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/10/2020 brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Jalingo’s behalf.
In the suit, SERAP argued that “… the sole objective of the government of Nigeria and the Cross River State Government of Governor Ben Ayade is to perpetually keep Agba Jalingo in arbitrary detention and to silence him simply for expressing critical views and carrying out his legitimate job as a journalist.”
His arrest was commanded by River state Governor Ayade on August 22, 2019, following his quest on the N500 million meant for the establishment of Cross River Microfinance Bank, Nigeria.
His report alleged that Governor Ben Ayade diverted N500 million belonging to the State.
Even though Jalingo is still facing four counts of treasonable felony, terrorism, cultism and attempt to overthrow Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and President Buhari.
Agba Jalingo’s right was grossly violated when he spent 4 months in detention.