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Nigeria Police Charges Journalist Held Six Weeks Without Trial
The new legislation focuses on the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Barkindo, who has reportedly been unwell for many years and has consistently handed over his responsibilities to assistants.
The Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday presented a journalist, Friday Alefia, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accused of disseminating misleading information regarding a Nigerian legislator.
Mr. Alefia, who has been held without trial for over six weeks, is the owner of the online news site Naija News Today (previously known as Asiwaju Media).
He appeared before Judge Obiora Egwuatu facing five charges.
He was listed as the first defendant, while Asiwaju Media Company Ltd was the second defendant, with the Commissioner of Police serving as the complainant.
The authorities charged him with cybercrime violations for sharing articles that supposedly criticized the work of Chinedu Ogah, a representative in the House of Representatives for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State.
A reporter was detained in Lagos on September 23 and subsequently moved to Abuja. He remained at the detention center of the former Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), even after his family and legal representatives repeatedly requested that he be brought before a court.
Plea
During Wednesday's session, the prosecution notified the court that the case was set for the defendants' arraignment.
Mr. Alefia denied all the accusations.
The judge therefore filed a not-guilty plea for the second defendant, Asiwaju Media Company Ltd.
The prosecution subsequently requested a hearing date, but the defense attorney, Israel Abida, notified the court about an ongoing bail application.
Justice Egwuatu pointed out that there was no such application in the court's records.
In the same way, the prosecution stated that it had not received any application.
As a result, Mr. Abida requested the court to provide a brief postponement, explaining that the main lawyer, on whose behalf he was acting, had told him that the prosecution did not object to bail.
He also mentioned that the accused had been in custody for approximately two months and asked the court to take his request into account.
However, the judge rejected the request. He mentioned: "As there is no application in the court's records and no proof that the prosecution has been notified, you are not entitled to request a brief postponement since I have not reviewed the application. I will set a trial date, and you can then present your argument for bail."
He postponed the case to January 27 for a hearing and directed that the defendant remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Charges
One count accused the defendants of conspiracy, alleging they used computer systems, including social media platforms like Facebook, to spread false information.
Count two accuses the defendants of publishing a report titled "How Federal Lawmaker Ogah Seizes Village Land in Ebonyi", aware that it was false.
At the count of three, Mr. Alefia is charged with cyberstalking for supposedly sharing a false statement on Facebook that claimed Mr. Ogah said: "I fixed the senatorial election against Emmanuel Onwe."
Four counts pertain to the publication titled "Ebonyi Rep Member Returns N4 Million Amidst Extortion Allegations," which the police claim is also untrue.
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List five issues regarding another reportedly inaccurate report titled "Ebonyi Assembly Member Warns Voter for Backing Charity Organization."
The authorities stated that all five charges breach Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act and are subject to penalties outlined in Section 24(2)(c)(i).
Numerous national and global human rights groups have condemned the Nigerian government and its departments for employing clauses from the cybercrime legislation to target reporters, advocates, and public speakers.
Mr. Alefia is added to the list of Nigerians facing trial under the law.
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Tagged: Nigeria, Legal and Judicial Affairs, Press and Media, West Africa
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