Renowned Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has reportedly taken over the case between the Nigeria Police Force and Agba Jalingo after the rights activist was moved from Lagos to Abuja cell in the early hours of Saturday.
It was gathered that Falana had on Friday night paid a visit to Jalingo at the Area F Police Station in Ikeja where he was detained.
However, Jalingo was whisked away on Saturday via the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.
A police officer at the Force Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department in Abuja ordered that Jalingo should be arrested and that he be moved down to Abuja,
Truthlive.net gathered that wife of the activist, Mrs Jalingo, had told Channels TV in a telephone conversation that her husband has been taken to Abuja.
According to Mrs. Jalingo, the police had said that Jalingo’s offence(s) was, “Defamation of character and infringement of integrity on Frank Ayade’s wife, the younger brother to Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade.”
She also disclosed that, “Femi Falana (SAN) was in the station with us this morning and has sent his lawyers in Abuja to handle the case.”
Also, Falana, has also confirmed that he has taken over the case.
Expressing concern over how things are turning out, the activist’s wife said, “Everything is getting very difficult and scary and one will definitely be apprehensive.”
Meanwhile, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer said that the case is not with the state command but the Force Headquarters.
He added, “They came from Abuja and they have taken him away. I don’t know the details.
However, according to Channels TV, a senior police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that a very senior police officer in Abuja signed a letter and dispatched a team to arrest Jalingo.
Recall that policemen from Force Headquarters stormed Jalingo’s residence in the Alapere area of Lagos and whisked him to the Area F Police Station where he was detained on Friday night. overnight.
Before his arrest, police officers surrounded his house and held down his wife and daughter, the activist was quoted to disclosed.
Jalingo, a publisher of Cross River Watch was imprisoned in 2019 at the Afokang Prison in Calabar and was released on bail on February 17, 2020 after 179 days.
He is an associate of African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The rights activist, was arrested over an allegation of treason by the Cross River State Governor Benedict Ayade.