Embattled journalist, Agba Jalingo, on Monday met his bail terms and got released from the medium-security custodial centre in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Publisher of CrossRiverWatch has been in detention for a week now after he was remanded in prison by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court over alleged acts of cybercrime.
Jalingo was arrested last week on charges bordering on false publication intended to cause, “annoyance, ill will and insult,” on the wife of Frank Ayade, the younger brother of Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade.
He was alleged to have committed offences punishable by Section 24 (1)b of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015, Court documents in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/565/2022 show.
Last Thursday, Jalingo, through his team of lawyers led by Femi Falana, SAN, begged the court for his bail pending the determination of the case against him. Police lawyer, Mr Fidelis Ogbobe, did not oppose the application, Naija News learnt.
The court granted him bail to the tune of N500,000. Aside from the N500,000 bail bond, trial Justice Abubakar held that the surety must be an owner of a landed property within the FCT.
The judge ordered that the title deed of the said property must be deposited with the Deputy Registrar in charge of litigations of the court.
Today, Jalingo’s release warrant was signed and served on the correctional authorities who released him.
