Trial of journalist Jalingo’s stalls as prosecutor asks for protection of witness

By our correspondent

The trial of the publisher of Cross RiverWatch, Agba Jalingo charged for treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State government could not commence on Wednesday as the prosecutor asked for witness protection and amendment of charges.

The prosecution counsel in the case against the journalist, Dennis Tarhemba has asked court to grant leave to amend the charges and an order to protect its witnesses.

The lead counsel to the defendant, Attah Ochinke told the Court that despite the prosecution filing the amendment on October 11th, they were served hours to when the Court sat  and, Justice Amobeda adjourned the matter to tomorrow (Thursday) to entertain the plea of the prosecution and commencement of trial.

“The defense counsel shall file and serve his reaction before trial tomorrow,” Justice Amobeda said. The defence counsel declined to speak to the press. But, the prosecution counsel told journalists to wait till the next adjourned date to get details on the amended charges.

When pressed for the reason behind approaching the Court for an order to protect its witness, he averred: “You know such application is not yet heard. We cannot in any way give any information on what the Court is yet to pronounce. You wait till tomorrow.”

Jalingo arrived the court premises at about 9:26am in a green-coloured van marked “Calabar Prisons”

He was in company of another inmate and four correction officers. Two were armed and the other two unarmed. Decked in a black tee shirt with the inscription, “Dictators Perpetually Fear Our Pens,” Jalingo also wore a blue jeans and grey coloured shoes.