A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has denied a journalist, Agba Jalingo, bail over treason charges for a report about alleged diversion of N500 million by Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.
Justice Simon Amobeda ruled on Friday that the charges against Mr Jalingo were grave with one carrying capital punishment.
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The judge also ruled that there was no substantial evidence to show that Jalingo’s health was failing.
Jalingo, publisher of CrossRiverWatch newspaper based in Cross River, alleged that Mr Ayade approved and diverted N500 million for Cross River Micro Finance.
Arrested on August 22, Jalingo spent 34 days in police detention before being arraigned on September 25.
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He is being tried for terrorism, treasonable felony and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government.
Jalingo arrived the court on Friday in cuffs wearing a black T-shirt with the inscription “Journalism Is Not A Crime”.
