Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has spoken publicly for the first time over the continuous detention of Agba Jalingo, a journalist standing trial for criticising him.
Mr Jalingo, publisher of CrossRiverWatch, has been in prison since Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Calabar denied him bail twice.
Arrested on August 22, Jalingo spent 34 days in police detention before being arraigned on September 25.
Jalingo published a report alleging that Mr Ayade diverted N500 million from the state’s treasury.
Speaking on Monday with reporters at the presidential villa, Abuja, after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, Ayade said the journalist was being tried for treason and that the matter was between the journalist and the Federal Government.
“In court, it is Federal Government versus Agba Jalingo, not Cross River State. He’s in court for treason, a state does not have power to try anyone for treason, it’s not me,” he said, adding that Jalingo had supported the call for revolution by Omoyele Sowore.
Ayade then added: “I am of the opinion that Agba should be released because I think he was just youthfully excited. If you ask Agba Jalingo today, I’m the one working with his lawyers for his freedom, I’m the one sustaining him and sending upkeeps.”
The governor alleged that Jalingo used to ask him for money.
“Please ask Agba Jalingo, that CrossRiverWatch, the first person to give him money to set up the office was myself. His official vehicle, it was me. I don’t have to list all of these, he knows that I have funded and supported him, but journalism stops where blackmail becomes part of your strategy,” Ayade said.
