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Jalingo: Ubani Questions Gov. Ayade’s Claims

A Former 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Monday Ubani, has pointed out discrepancies in the claims made by Gov. Ben Ayade over the incarceration of journalist, Agba Jalingo.
Jalingo was detained by Ayade over a publication accusing the governor of diverting the sum of N500million without accounting for it.
The governor had claimed that he had no hands in the detention of the journalist and added that he was making efforts to get Jalingo released.
“He is in court for treason, a State does not have power to try anyone for treason, it is not me. Agba Jalingo is not a journalist, he is the Chairman of a political party and so once he started the campaign to overthrow the government of President Buhari, he ceased to be seen from the point of journalist because he has become the State Chairman of a party,” Ayade said.
Ubani, in an opinion piece, asked the governor 12 questions that pointed out the discrepancies in the claims..
Part of the piece read: “So the Federal offence of treasonable felony against President Buhari is being handled by the CP of Cross River State at the instructions of who in Cross River State?
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“Such federal offence against President Buhari who sits in Abuja is being handled in Cross River State by the Police Authority in Cross River upon what criminal jurisprudence? Going by your account Agba Jalingo was tear-gassed during #RevolutionNow at Cross River State or was it not in Lagos?
“One of the charges both old and amended against Agba Jalingo is his alleged attempt to overthrow your government, please where was President Buhari mentioned in the old charge against Agba Jalingo? So to rope in the President, the police amended the charge to bring in the presidency that was never a charge in the old? Just hoping that the presidency will disown this reprehensible allegation that has no basis in fact and law.
“You allege sustaining Agba Jalingo financially while he is detained, the members of the public including my humble self will like to know who you are giving the said money to, to Agba directly or to Jonathan of Cross River Watch who I know to be the one catering for Agba Jalingo while he is detained? If you have given any money as alleged, please could you make public the alleged amount you have spent so far for Agba Jalingo’s upkeep?
“You alleged to be working with Agba Jalingo’s legal team to have him released from the illegal detention he has been subjected to. May I ask, which of the lawyers are you working with for this ‘altruistic gesture’ to have Agba released from detention?”
Ubani then urged the governor to “remove the ‘hand of monkey’ from soup before it turns out to be the hand of a human being and ensure the release of Jalingo forthwith from illegal detention.”
