TRACKING____Amnesty International (AI) has accused Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State of running a repressive regime, saying this could hinder investors from coming to the state.
The International Human Rights Watchdog, which also accused the governor of playing politics with the liberty of citizens of the state, called on the governor to release without further delay Agba Jalingo “immediately and unconditionally.”
While addressing journalists at a press conference yesterday at the Calabar Sports Club, the Media Manager for Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, joined by the organisation’s Chief Researcher, Damian Ugwu, said by holding Jalingo in detention over spurious allegations, the governor was working against the people, who voted him into power.
They said: “We are concerned that Agba Jalingo’s trial falls short of international standards of fairness, especially because the court has allowed witnesses to be masked and trial to be held in secret. The flawed charges and sham trial of Agba Jalingo have exposed the inadequacies and manipulation of the Nigerian criminal justice system and an unacceptable contempt for human rights and the rule of law.
“Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari must stop filing bogus and politically motivated charges against critics and to listening to what they have to say.”
“The pattern of repression in Cross River State flagrantly violates the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended, and International and Regional Human and Peoples’ Rights Treaties.
including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a party.
“Cross River State Government must stop the repression. The government must respect, protect and ensure the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.”
Sanusi, however, recalled that Amnesty International had in 2019 declared Jalingo, and other journalists and activists, as prisoners of conscience “because he was detained purely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
“Jalingo was arrested at his home in Lagos on August 22, 2019 and driven more than 766 kilometres by road to Calabar, after writing series of articles and social media posts critical of the Cross River State government, his home state,” Amnesty International added..
